THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


OUR  PROSPECTS; 


•v. 


A.  TALE  OF  REAL  LIFE, 


MORITZ  LOTH. 


"  Trans  eat  in  exemplum.' 


CINCINNATI: 

EGBERT  CLARKE  &  Co.,  PRINTERS, 

65  West  Fourth  Street,  . 

1870.  ' 


\ 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress, 
In  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy, 

BY  MORITZ  LOTH, 
In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington, 


PS 


JlESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED 


LOTH:,  Esq., 

OF 

NEW  YORK, 

WITH  GREAT  REGARD, 

BY  HIS  AFFECTIONATE,  LOVING  BROTHER, 


652671 


PREFACE. 


WHY  is  it  that  in  this  world  of  plenty  there  should  be  so 
much  want,  suffering,  and  misery?  Why  is  it  that  with  all 
the  wisdom  with  which  God  has  endowed  men,  there  should 
be  so  much  cruelty,  so  much  viciousness  and  wholesale  mur- 
der and  devastation  ? 

This  shows,  evidently,  that  society  is  not  well  organized, 
that  the  education  of  the  people  is  very  defective,  and  the 
example  set  before  the  masses,  by  those  whom  circumstances 
have  placed  at  the  head  of  affairs,  is  deplorably  demoralizing. 

Seeing  this,  and  feeling  for  my  fellow-men,  I  have,  not- 
withstanding that  I  am  a  merchant  and  actively  engaged  in 
business  throughout  the  day,  devoted  my  leisure  hours,  to  point 
out  with  my  pen,  the  mistakes  of  life,  and  the  errors  of  so- 
ciety, in  sketches  which  I  have  contributed  to  several  prom- 
inent newspapers,  under  the  nom  deplume  "  Milotiz,"  as  "  The 
Miser's  Fate;"  "My  Old  Umbrella;"  "The  Plain  Truth," 
etc.,  which  were,  as  I  am  informed,  highly  appreciated. 
Being  published  only  in  newspapers,  which  are  generally  de- 
stroyed, or  filed  away,  my  "  Tales,"  with  their  defects  and 
merits,  were  lost  to  the  reading  public  at  large,  which  has 
induced  me  to  issue,  in  book  form,  my  latest  production. 
00 


VI  PREFACE. 

"  Our  Prospects,  a  Tale  of  Eeal  Life,"  endeavors  to  illus- 
trate "the  true  aims  of  life;"  to  show  distinctly  the  conse- 
quences of  the  great  extravagance  and  vanity  now  existing; 
to  indicate  clearly  why  marriages  decrease  and  divorces  in- 
crease ;  why  there  is  so  much  casualty  among  infants ;  why 
virtue  is  on  the  decline  and  vice  advances  with  giant  steps. 

To  check  and  remedy  these  evils,  this  book  has  been  writ- 
ten, and  is  respectfully  laid  before  the  public  by  the 

AUTHOR. 


OUR  PROSPECTS, 


A  TALE  OF  REAL  LIFE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

ON  one  of  the  fashionable  avenues  stands  a  grand  palatial 
residence,  occupied  by  one  of  the  oldest  aristocratic  families, 
and  many  a  humble  pedestrian  who  passes  that  splendid 
mansion  exclaims,  rapturously :  "  What  a  beautiful  house ! 
Look  at  its  grand  proportions,  its  massive,  richly  chiseled 
stone  front;  the  broad  stairway,  the  large  artistically  carved 
front  door  ;  the  lofty,  ornamented  windows,  with  the  heavy 
French  plate,  adorned  inside  with  real  lace  curtains ;  while 
flowers  meet  the  view  on  every  side  of  the  imposing  premi- 
ses. How  happy  the  people  must  be  who  live  there  !" 

It  is  near  noon.  An  elegant  carriage,  drawn  by  a  pair  of 
young,  restless  bays,  in  costly  harness,  wheels  before  the 
residence; -the  coachman  sits  erect,  clothed  in  comfortable 
clothes,  with  white  buck  gauntlets,  and  the  bandage  of  ser- 
vitude around  his  hat — that  was  the  objectionable  part  of 
the  gay  appointment. 

The  horses  pawed  restlessly  and  the  coachman  looks  slyly 
at  the  door,  for  he  is  kept  waiting  for  some  time.  At  last 
the  panel  door  opens,  and  three  full  grown  young  ladies  ap- 
pear, dressed  super  elegantly.  Everything  seems  to  match 
and  correspond  well ;  the  whole  combination  is  an  artisti- 
cal  success.  They  feel  it,  and  look  at  each  other  admiringly. 


6  OTJR   PROSPECTS. 

Slowly  they  descend  the  steps ;  there  is  none  on  the  threshold 
to  see  them  off,  for  the  door  closed  quickly  after  them. 

"  Where  will  we  take  our  morning  ride  ?"  asked  one  of  the 
girls,  adjusting  her  fur-top  gloves,  leisurely. 

"  The  ground  is  frozen  and  the  air  nice  and  clear,  suppose 
we  order  to  drive  on  the  Linden  road,  and  back  by  Park 
avenue." 

"  Agreed  !"  exclaimed  the  other  young  ladies,  "  that  is  a 
good  long  ride,  and  by  the  time  we  come  back  dinner  will 
be  ready." 

"  And  the  parlors  cleaned,"  added  the  third. 

They  all  smiled  at  that  remark,  and  the  oldest  gave  the 
order : 

"  Tom,  drive  out  to  Linden  road,  and  back  by  Park  ave- 
nue. You  need  not  drive  fast  through  the  city." 

Tom  tipped  his  hat,  closed  the  door  after  the  ladies  were 
seated,  and  drove  as  directed. 

The  young  ladies  looked  out  from  the  carriage,  not  to  see, 
but  to  be  seen. 

"  How  glad  am  I  that  they  are  gone,"  said  the  mother  of 
the  young  ladies  to  herself.  "  I  am  tired  from  waiting  on 
them,  and  nearly  worn  out  from  listening  to  their  thousand 
wants  and  desires ;  how  they  tease  me,  from  morning  until 
night !"  She  placed  her  hand  to  her  forehead  and  exclaimed  : 
"  What  a  burden  it  is  to  a  mother  to  have  three  full  grown 
daughters  in  the  house ;  what  an  oppressing  care  and 
anxiety  to  marry  them  to  the  right  man  !"  and  with  these 
words  she  threw  herself  on  the  sofa,  weary  and  troubled 
in  her  mind.  But  she  soon  arose  and  said :  "  No,  I  can  not 
afford  to  rest :  to-morrow  is  New  Year's  day,  the  parlors  are 
to  be  cleaned  ;  I  told  the  servant  girls  to  do  it,  and  I  must  see 
whether  they  are  at  it." 

Entering  the  parlors,  she  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing 
her  hired  girls,  with  up-rolled  sleeves,  hard  at  work. 

"  That  is  right,"  said  she,  in  a  patronizing  tone.     "Do  it 
good,  we  expect  a  good  many  calls  to-morrow." 
"  Yes,  madam,"  was  the  short  response. 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  7 

There  was  something  harsh  in  that  "  yes,  madam,"  and 
the  mistress  readily  perceived  that  the  girls  were  angry  and 
discontented.  "  "What  could  be  the  reason,"  thought  she ;  "  no,  I 
must  not  question,  it  would  make  it  only  worse,  and  it  would 
be  a  calamity  if  they  would  take  it  into  their  heads  to  pack 
up  and  leave  ;  who  would  then  clean  the  parlors,  sweep  and 
dust  the  hall  ?  Neither  of  my  daughters,  Agnes,  Myra  or 
Blanche,  could  do  it.  'What  a  catastrophe,  if  those  servants 
should  go  away ;  to  avert  it  I  will  go  out  so  as  not  to  come  in 
contact  with  them."  Acting  upon  these  thoughts  she  went 
to  her  dressing  room,  changed  her  attire  and  soon  left  the 
house. 

Eeaching  the  street,  and  feeling  the  fresh,  invigorating  air 
she  paused  and  asked  herself,  "  Where  shall  I  go  V"  She  had 
hardly  time  to  answer  the  question  when  an  elderly  gentle- 
man approached  and  greeted  her. 

"  Good  morning,  my  daughter  ;  how  do  you  do  ?" 

"  Good  morning,  grandpapa  ;  I  am  well,  thank  you,  how  is 
your  health  ?" 

"  I  never  felt  better,"  answered  the  old  gentleman,  heart- 
ily. "How  is  my  son?" 

"  Mr.  Hunting  was  well  when  he  left  for  his  business  this 
morning." 

"Mr.  Hunting?"  repeated  the  old  gentlemen.  "Why 
do  you  call  your  husband  in  my  presence  Mr.  Hunting ; 
why  not  call  him  Edward,  or  my  Eddy,  as  you  used  to  call 
him?" 

The  wife  blushed  and  made  no  answer. 

"  How  are  your  daughters  ?  Have  you  received  any  let- 
ters from  your  sons  ?  " 

"  My  daughters  are  not  quite  well.  They  took  a  ride  for 
the  benefit  of  their  health.  I  have  received  a  letter  from 
Charley,  he  is  still  in  Maine,  skating  on  the  lakes;  but  no 
news  as  yet  from  Augustus.  I  am  very  uneasy  and  hope  that 
nothing  happened  to  his  ship." 

"  I  calculate  that  you  will  receive  a  letter  from  him  this 


8  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

week.  But  where  are  you  going?"  asked  the  patriarch, 
inquisitively. 

"I  am  on  my  way  to  the  confectioner  to  buy  a  New 
Year's  cake." 

"  Why  buy  a  cake  of  the  confectioner  ?  "Why  not  have 
your  daughters  to  make  one?  " 

"  My  daughters  to  make  a  cake !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Hunt- 
ing. "My  daughters  have  never  learned  to  make  cakes. 
They  have  enough  to  do  with  their  Latin,  Greek  and  French 
studies,  and  their  music  and  drawing  lessons.  Dear  me,  my 
daughters  to  make  a  cake  !  " 

"  Then  the  prospects  are,  that  when  they  get  married,  and 
their  husbands'  circumstances  will  be  such  as  not  to  permit 
to  buy  a  cake  at  the  confectionary,  that  they  will  be  obliged 
to  do  without  cake  and  other  home-comforts  which  a  wife  has 
to  provide.  I  must  speak  to  you  about  this,"  remarked  the 
grandfather.  "  I  will  go  to  your  house  and  wait  till  you 
come  back." 

"  Do,  please,"  said  the  daughter-in-law ;  and  each  went 
their  way. 

"I  could  not  help  blushing,"  said  Mrs.  Hunting  to  herself, 
"when  father-in-law  reproached  me  for  calling  my  husband 
Mr.  Hunting,  and  not  by  his  given  name,  Edward  or  Eddy, 
as  I  used  to.  But  he,  too,  calls  me  of  late  Mrs.  Hunting,  and 
not  Kate  or  Kid,  which  was  his  pet  name.  Why  is  it  that 
we  are  growing  so  cold  and  distant?  It  must  be  the  luring 
desire  of  my  husband  to  grow  still  wealthier,  and  my  ambi- 
tion to  outshine  all  of  my  neighbors.  It  is  a  strife  in  which 
all  our  senses  and  nerves  are  strained  to  the  utmost  capacity. 
We  take  not  the  time  to  love  and  reflect  on  anything  else.  That 
is  our  goal.  Is  it  a  worthy  one  ?  " 

With  these  words  on  her  lips,  she  reached  the  confection- 
ary. The  proprietor  observing  her  entrance,  whispered  to 
the  salesman  :  "  Let  me  wait  on  her.  I  know  her  weak 
points.  I  will  sell  her  more  and  with  a  bigger  profit." 

With  a  very  respectful  bow,  the  producer  of  confect  ap- 
proaching remarked  :  "  To  your  service,  madam." 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  9 

"  I  want  a  New  Tear's  cake,  something  very  pretty,  of  a  new 
design  that  has  not  yet  been  seen ;  something  that  everybody 
has  not  got." 

"  I  am  very  sorry  that  madam  did  not  come  a  day  sooner, 
as  my  most  elaborate  New  Year's  cakes  are  sold.  At 
no  other  season  have  we  been  so  successful  with  our  New 
Year's  cakes,  as  this  year.  Permit  me  to  show  you  two  cakes 
which  I  have  made  to  order."  Stepping  to  another  show- 
case, he  uncovered  two  richly  ornamented  cakes,  with  a 
self-satisfied  air. 

"  They  are  beautiful  cakes,  the  prettiest  I  ever  have  seen  ; 
they  are  just  what  I  want.  Can  you  make  the  same,  and 
deliver  them  in  time?"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Hunting. 

"  I  could  not,  madam ;  the  ornamenting  requires  a  great 
deal  of  time." 

"  Now  suppose  you  sell  these  cakes  to  me,  and  make  two 
others,  not  quite  so  ornamented,"  observed  Mrs.  Hunting, 
archly. 

"  I  don't  see  how  I  could  do  it ;  they  are  intended  for 
Mrs.  La  Monte.  She  ordered  two  cakes  for  fifty  dollars,  and 
left  the  design  entirely  to  me.  She  wishes  something  very 
handsome,  as  she  expects  a  visit  of  two  Counts  from  Paris,  rel- 
atives of  the  family — but,"  looking  at  his  watch,  "  it  is  only 
eleven,"  said  he,  and  I  think  that  I  can  make  two  other 
cakes,  not  quite  so  artistic  in  design,  but  which  will  also  look 
well.  It  is  fortunate  that  Lady  La  Monte  has  not  yet  seen 
these  cakes,  and  that  I  am  thus  enabled  to  accommodate  you. 
When  do  you  wish  to  have  them  sent  home  ?" 

"  Immediately,"  commanded  Mrs.  Hunting,  for  fear  that 
Mrs.  La  Monte  might  see  them,  and  persuade  the  accommo- 
dating confectioner  to  let  her  have  the  cakes,  and  that  she 
would  thus  be  deprived  of  having  the  handsomest  New 
Year's  cake  in  the  city. 

"  Allow  me,  madam,  to  recommend  to  you  some  of  my 
wines,  imported  expressly  for  the  New  Year's  table.  It  is 
the  genuine  Tokay  and  Johannisberger  of  the  Prince  of  Met- 
ternich's  estate.  I  have  sold  to  our  first  families  of  the 


10  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

Tokay,  at  sixty  dollars  a  dozen  bottles;  but  the  Johannis- 
berger,  the  very  finest  wine  in  the  market,  costing  eighty- 
five  dollars  a  dozen,  was  entirely  disregarded.  New  Year's 
callers  ought  to  be  treated  with  the  best  of  wine  by  those 
who  can  afford  it.  Shall  I  send  madam  a  case  of  each  as  a 
sample  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Hunting,  lost  in"  thought.  If  other  rich 
families  will  furnish  Tokay,  it  will  not  do  for  Mrs.  Hunting 
to  offer  only  Catawba  or  Rhine  wines." 

"Is  there  anything  else  that  I  could  furnish  for  the  New 
Year's  feast?"  asked  the  subtle  proprietor,  very  politely. 

"Nothing  more.  Be  sure  to  send  the  cakes,  the  Tokay, 
and  the  Prince  Metternich's  wine,  home  soon." 

"  In  one  hour  it  shall  be  delivered,''  and  with  a  very  smil- 
ing countenance  he  closed  the  door  after  his  wealthy  cus- 
tomer, remarking  to  his  employees,  "  It  is  lucky  that  the  hus- 
band of  that  lady  has  the  talent  to  make  plenty  of  money; 
else  the  prospects  are  that  they  would  end  their  old  days  in 
the  poor-house." 

Mrs.  Hunting  felt  very  happy  that  she  had  succeeded  in 
securing  the  two  cakes  intended  for  Mrs.  La  Monte,  a  for- 
midable rival  of  display,  one  not  easily  to  be  outdone — "but 
this  time  she  will  have  the  advantage  in  the  show  of  New 
Year's  cakes.  Could  she  only  manage  to  have  the  two  Counts 
call  at  her  house  on  New  Year's  day,  see  the  grand  cakes,  and 
taste  of  the  celebrated  Tokay  and  Prince  Metternich's  estate 
wine,  her  happiness  would  be  complete.  But  how  manage 
to  get  those  Counts  to  her  residence?  If  Charley  would  be 
here,  he  could  do  it,  for  he  has  talent  to  mingle  in  gay  com- 
pany. I  will  telegraph  for  him.  But  no,  it  is  too  late  ;  and 
beside  that,  it  is  best  to  leave  him  among  the  snow-clad 
mountains  of  Maine,  where  his  chances  for  squandering 
money  are  not  so  great.  His  father  deplores  his  extravagant 
habits.  He  calls  him  the  leech  of  his  purse.  But  I  hope  he 
will  reform,  and  also  give  up  the  whim  of  paying  court  to 
one  of  my  servant  girls,  the  best  I  ever  had."  A  heavy  sigh 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  11 

escaped  from  her  troubled  heart,  and  she  stepped  in  a  fruit 
store  to  buy  some  Malaga  grapes. 

Grandfather  Hunting  pulled  the  bell  pretty  lively  at  the 
front  door  of  his  son's  residence,  but  no  one  appeared  to 
answer  the  call.  "So  it  is,"  said  he,  somewhat  out  of 
patience,  "  all  the  daughters  out  riding  for  the  benefit  of 
their  health,  instead  of  working,  and  the  mistress  also  away 
buying  cakes  which  ought  to  be  baked  at  home,  and  thus 
the  servants  all  by  themselves  in  the  house,  and  a  man  can 
freeze  really  to  death  outside,  before  they  open  the  door. 
But  let  me  see  :  all  the  latch-keys  are  nowadays  made  of 
one  pattern,  perhaps  my  night-key  will  fit  this  lock."  Ap- 
lying  it,  the  door  opened  readily ;  he  entered  the  hall  and 
seated  himself,  unobserved,  before  the  hot-air  furnace. 

The  girls  were  yet  in  the  parlors,  not  working,  but 
talking. 

"  I  tell  you,  Augustine,  it  is  more  than  unreasonable, 
it  is  a  shame,  for  three  full  grown  girls  to  take  a  pleasure 
ride,  and  leave  us  to  clean  the  parlor  for  them,  to  receive 
their  company,  when  they  know  the  very  large  washing  and 
ironing  that  we  have  to  do  this  week.  I  tell  you,  to  wash 
and  iron  those  narrow-plaited  white  skirts,  and  to  flute  them, 
makes  my  arms  ache ;  and  they  will  not  help  in  the  kitchen, 
either.  I  have  a  good  mind,  when  my  week  is  up,  to  pack  my 
trunk  and  look  for  another  place." 

"Ellen,  do  not  do  that:  it  gives  a  girl  a  bad  character  to 
change  so  often,  and  you  can  not  tell  whether  you  will  do 
better ;  if  the  work  is  hard,  let  the  pay  be  good ;  be  good- 
natured,  do  all  you  can  do,  and  ask  the  mistress  for  higher 
wages.  If  she  is  satisfied  with  your  work  and  your  behavior, 
she  will  gladly  pay  you  all  you  ask ;  then  save  your  earn- 
ings until  you  have  a  nice  little  sum,  and  commence  a  little 
candy  and  pop-corn  store,"  observed  Augustine,  earnestly. 

"  You  Germans  are  always  for  money  making,  while  we 
Irish  do  not  care  so  much  for  money  as  our  rights.  Is  it 
right  for  the  misses  to  take  a  ride  to-day  and  leave  us  to 


12  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

clean  the  parlors,  when  they  know  the  big  job  of  washing 
and  ironing  we  have  on  hand  ?" 

"I  admit,"  answered  Augustine,  "that  it  is  not  quite 
right ;  but  they  are  in  a  position  to  do  very  much  as  they 
please,  and  they  do  as  they  please." 

"  That  is  just  like  you ;  you  always  take  their  part,"  ob- 
served Ellen,  shaking  her  head.  "I  really  believe  that  you 
have  set  your  cap  for  Charley  ^Hunting,  and  consider  yourself 
one  of  the  family." 

""Why,  Ellen,  how  can  you  talk  that  way  to  me!  Have  you 
ever  seen  that  I  did  with  a  word,  a  look,  or  action,  try  to 
win  the  good  graces  of  that  young  man;  if  anything,  I 
avoided  his  presence,  and  if  he  lingered  where  we  worked, 
I  lectured  him,  like  a  good  mother  would  an  idle  son,  who 
does  nothing  but  spend  money  and  get  in  all  kinds  of  scrapes. 
I  despise  an  idler,  be  he  young  or  old.  I  consider  idlers  the 
most  dangerous  beings  to  the  welfare  of  society.  I  can  not 
respect  them,  and  I  never  will  love  a  man  whom  I  can  not 
respect.  The  prospects  are,  whoever  marries  Charley  Hunt- 
ing, or  a  man  of  his  habits,  will  lead  a  woeful  life.  A  thou- 
sand times  better  to  live  and  die  an  old  maid,  than  marry  a 
man  of  that  degraded  stamp,  even  if  they  are  clothed  in  fash- 
ionable clothes  and  surrounded  by  wealth." 

This  was  said  with  so  much  energy  that  Ellen  exclaimed : 

"  Augustine,  stop  !  Say  nothing  more,  for  my  Patrick 
goes  occasionally  on  a  spree,  and  you  could  convince  me  that 
it  is  wrong  and  would  be  best  for  me  to  break  off  with  him, 
but  it  would  break  my  heart.  I  love  Patrick  with  all  his 
faults,  and  will  go  it  blind." 

"Everybody  does  according  to  his  inclination  and  un- 
derstanding," observed  Augustine,  sadly,  as  she  resumed 
the  cleaning  of  the  grand  mirror. 

Ellen,  too,  commenced  to  work,  scrubbing  vigorously  the 
stone  before  the  fireplace.  She  stopped  occasionally  and 
looked  at  her  fellow-servant,  with  admiring  and  envious 
eyes. 

"  Augustine,"  said  she,  in  an  affectionate  tone  ;  "  look  in 


A   TALE   OP    REAL   LIFE.  13 

the  mirror  and  see  how  beautiful  you  are.  I  never  have 
seen  a  girl  of  such  splendid  figure.  You  are  just  of  the  right 
hight.  Your  waist  is  narrow,  your  bosom  full,  your  neck 
queenly,  your  arms  round  and  dimpled,  your  hands,  notwith- 
standing their  hard  work,  are  small  and  beautifully  shaped  ; 
your  brow  is  high,  your  cheeks  rosy,  and  your  lips  red  as 
coral,  your  teeth  are  like  pearls,  and  your  wealth  of  hair 
with  its  golden  hue,  your  brilliant  complexion,  and  your  large 
dark-blue  eyes,  with  their  celestial  light,  speak  of  purity 
and  kindness.  You  will,  one  [of  these  days,  be  a  grand  lady, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  a  good  one." 

"  Ellen,  you  are  quite  a  flatterer,"  remarked  Augustine. 
"  I  am  not  half  as  beautiful  as  you  paint  me.  The  little  per- 
sonal attractions  that  I  possess,  I  attribute  to  the  physical 
exertions  which  I  make,  and  to  the  thoughts  which  occupy 
my  mind,  endeavoring  to  render  them  pure  and  noble,  just 
as  my  mother  always  taught  me.  God  bless  my  mother ! 
Her  lessons  to  me  are  of  incalculable  value  :  they  consoled 
me  and  still  cheer  me  in  my  hours  of  trial.  Every  day  I 
am  more  convinced  how  well  she  understood  human  motives, 
human  weakness  ;  how  easy  it  is  to  go  astray  and  fall  j  how 
difficult  to  come  back  to  the  right  path,  and  rise  to  an  hon- 
orable position.  'Beware  of  the  first  false  step,'  said  she,  'and 
nothing  will  aid  you  so  much  in  avoiding  it,  as  a  constant 
occupation  ;  have  a  calling,  be  it  ever  so  humble,  but  let 
it  be  considered  honest  by  all  men  ;  work  diligently,  work 
gladly ;  thank  God  that  you  know  how  to  work,  and  that 
you  have  work.' 

u  See,  Ellen,"  continued  Augustine,  a  smile  beaming  on  her 
beautiful,  intellectual  face,  *'  you  grumble  because  you  have 
so  much  work  to  do  ;  yet  it  never  occurred  to  you,  that  you 
owe  to  that  very  work  your  excellent  health  and  vital 
strength  ;  and  that  renders  you,  even  without  education,  a 
good,  sensible  girl.  It  really  gives  me  pleasure  to  see  your 
good  appetite." 

"  Yes,  Augustine,  you  are  right  there,  I  am  a  very  hearty 
eater ;"  and  both  the  girls  laughed. 


14  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

"Have  you  ever  noticed,"  said  Augustine,  moving  the 
chair  to  another  mirror  which  she  commenced  wiping  care- 
fully, "  how  very  little  our  young  ladies  eat.  The  best  the 
market  affords  is  brought  to  the  house.  I  take  special  care 
to  cook  everything  savory,  and  it  is  served  in  an  inviting 
manner,  still  they  hardly  touch  it.  The  little  they  do  eat 
does  not  agree  with  them.  What  is  the  cause?  Nothing,  but 
that  they  do  not  take  sufficient  exercise ;  they  do  not  worki 
and  that  is  the  reason  that  they  grow  weak  and  are  continu- 
ally ailing.  They  are  the  best  customers  doctors  can  have." 

"  That's  it,"  ejaculated  Ellen.  "  They  are  sufficiently  pun- 
ished for  their  laziness,  and  that  also  explains  to  me  why 
their  hair  does  not  grow  as  thick  and  long  as  yours  and  mine. 

That  is  also  the  reason  why  they  must  have  false ."  She 

could  not  finish  her  sentence — a  loud  knock  was  heard  on 
the  front  door. 

"  Ellen,  please  go  and  answer  the  call,"  requested  Augus- 
ine. 

Ellen  opened  the  door,  and  the  letter  carrier  stood  before 
her.  "  Are  you  asleep  in  there.  I  have  been  ringing  the 
bell  and  knocking  for  half  an  hour." 

"  We  are  in  the  parlor,  and  that  is  the  reason  we  could 
not  hear  the  bell.  What  have  you?  " 

"  A  letter  for  '  Fraulein  Augustine  Miiller,'  no  postage." 

Ellen  took  the  letter  and  hurried  to  her  friend,  exclaiming 
joyously  :  "  Augustine !  a  letter  for  you  from  Germany,  no 
postage  to  be  paid." 

"  A  letter  for  me  from  home  and  the  postage  pre-paid ! 
That  is  a  good  omen  ! "  She  jumped  from  the  chair,  the 
shock  unloosened  her  hair,  which  fell  in  great  profusion 
around  her  shoulders.  Standing  erect,  and  grasping  the  prec- 
ious letter  with  great  eagerness,  she  looked  truly  beautiful, 
and  fascinating,  as  she  devoured  the  contents  of  that  letter. 
Gradually,  the  color  of  her  face  changed  to  a  deadly  hue. 
She  pressed  her  hand  to  her  heart  and  fell  lifeless  on  the  floor. 

Ellen,  greatly  alarmed,  uttered  a  shriek  of  distress,  and 
called  loudly,  help  !  help  !  Wringing  her  hands  in  despair, 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  15 

she  cried  :  "Jesus,  Mary,  Joseph,  and  all  holy  saints,  what 
shall  I  do?" 

The  grandfather  who  had  been  still  unobserved  in  the 
hall,  quickly  stepped  into  the  parlor,  and  at  a  glance  com- 
prehended the  situation.  "  G-irl,  don't  make  so  much  noise," 
said  he,  camly,  "  But  bring  me,  as  quick  as  you  can,  a 
pitcher  of  cold  water  and  some  brandy." 

The  girl  did  as  directed,  and  the  old  gentleman  applied  the 
restoratives  in  qui6k  succession.  Slowly  animation  returned, 
and  in  a  few  minutes,  with  the  aid  of  Ellen  and  the  kind- 
hearted  old  Mr.  Hunting,  Augustine  was  able  to  reach  her 
room.  "  I  am  unwell"  said  she,  in  a  faint  voice.  "  I  must 
lay  down  and  rest." 

"  Do,"  said  the  grandfather.  He  was  about  giving  the 
order  that  a  fire  should  be  made  in  the  grate  or  stove,  when 
to  his  great  chagrin  he  noticed  that  the  room  was  not 
provided  with  either  grate  or  stove.  "  What  a  niggardly 
furnished  room  this  here  is  !  "What  a  poor  bed !  "  feeling  the 
hard  mattress  and  the  scanty  covering.  "  They  spend  thou- 
sands of  dollars  to  furnish  their  parlors  and  reception  room 
nowadays,  but  not  so  many  cents  for  the  servant  girl's  room. 
That  is  a  bed,"  said  he,  to  himself,  "  not  fit  for  a  dog  to  rest 
on,  stay  here,"  said  he  to  Ellen,  and  assist  your  room-mate. 
"  I  will  explain  all  to  the  mistress  when  she  comes." 

'.'  Yes,  sir,"  answered  Ellen,  willingly.  She  then^ began  to 
undress  the  weak  and  still  fainting  girl,  and  while  unlacing 
the  shoestrings  and  garter,  she  kindly  remarked  :  "  You  bet- 
ter leave  on  your  stockings  to  keep  your  feet  warm ;  let  me 
help  you  to  put  on  your  flannel  night-gown.  I  am  glad  it  is 
so  long,  let  me  wrap  it  around  you.  Your  hair  is  loose  and 
wet,  I  will  dry  it  and  put  it  under  your  cap.  That's  it. 
There  is  my  pillow,  too,  to  raise  your  head  higher.  Now, 
try  to  sleep." 

"Thank  you,  thank  you,  dear  Ellen,"  said  Augustine, 
faintly,  "  you  are  very  kind,  please  hand  me  the  letter."  She 
pressed  it  to  her  lips,  and  with  a  calm  smile  beaming  on  her 
beautiful,  yet  pale  face,  she  soon  fell  into  a  tranquil  slumber. 


16  OUR   PROSPECTS. 


CHAPTEE    II. 

OLD  Mr.  Hunting  was  still  waiting  for  his  daughter-in-law. 
He  began  to  feel  lonesome,  and  to  pass  away  the  time,  he  went 
all  over  the  house.  He  could  not  but  admire  the  splendid 
pictures  which  hung  on  the  walls,  the  well  filled  library,  the 
gorgeous  and  soft  carpets,  and  the  costly  furniture ;  but 
what  pleased  him  most,  was  the  kitchen  and  dining-room. 
All  the  kitchen  utensils  were  not  only  clean  but  highly  pol- 
ished, the  tables  and  floor  .shone  brightly;  there  was  not  a 
spot  to  be  seen,  everything  around  testified  that  the  girl 
who  worked  there  worked  well  and  gladly;  "and  still,"  pon- 
dered he,  "  the  same  girl,  that  does  so  well  the  work  on 
which  the  comforts  of  the  family  so  largely  depend,  is  in 
this  grandly  furnished  house  provided  with  a  room  that  has 
neither  fire-place  nor  stove  and  I  question  if  it  had  either, 
whether  she  would  be  allowed  to  have  a  fire.  I  can  not 
efface  from  my  mind  that  poor  scanty  bed  with  its  hard 
mattress ;  it  felt  as  if  it  were  filled  with  splinters  or  kind- 
ling wood.  There  is  much  complaint  about  servant  girls,  but 
I  begin  to  think,  from  what  I  have  heard  and  seen  to-day, 
that  the  blame  is  not  all  on  one  side.  Families  demand  much 
comfort  from  their  female  help,  and  give  none  or  only  spar- 
ingly in  return.  They  overload  them  with  work,  and  they 
themselves  will  give  no  helping  hand;  the  consequences  are 
natural :  the  girls  look  upon  their  employers  as  unreasonable 
and  without  feelings  for  their  welfare,  and  reciprocate  with 
interest." 

Mrs.  Hunting  came  home  in  a  very  good  humor,  being  still 
delighted  with  the  purchase  of  the  New-Year's  cake,  the 
Tokay  and  Johannisberger  wine  of  the  Prince  Metternich 
estate.  "  The  Prince  of  Metternich's  wine,"  thought  she, 
"will  be  highly  appreciated  by  our  New-Year's  callers, 
and  if  only  those  Counts  from  Paris  who  will  visit  the  L.a 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  17 

Monte  family  would  honor  her  residence  with  a  call,  and  drink 
of  the  Prince  of  Metternich's  wine,  and  relate  it  then  to  their 
host,  the  proud  La  Monte — that  would  gratify  her  pride  and 
vanity." 

She  entered  the  parlor,  and  great  was  her  astonishment 
to  find  that  the  room  was  not  yet  in  order.  Ellen  was  on 
her  knees,  scrubbing  lively  and  weeping  most  pitiously. 

"What  does  this  mean,"  exclaimed  the  mistress  in  anger. 
"  I'm  gone  these  two  hours,  and  you  have  hardly  done  a 
thing.  Where  is  the  other  girl,  and  why  do  you  cry?" 

"  Oh  !  madam,  do  not  scold  me," — a  fresh  burst  of  tears 
stifling  her  voice. 

"  Girl,  what  is  the  matter  with  you  ?  What  are  you  crying 
for  ?  Are  you  out  of  your  senses  ?"  Her  tone  was  still  angry, 
but  somewhat  subdued. 

"I  cry  because  Augustine  took  sick;  she  lies  in  her  bed 
with  the  face  turned  toward  the  door,  and  it  is  an  Irish 
tradition,  that  if  a  person  gets  sick  and  lies  down  with 
the  face  turned  toward  the  door,  they  never  will  leave  the 
bed  alive.  Poor  Augustine,  so  young,  so  beautiful,  to  die  in  a 
foreign  land,  without  a  relative,  without  a  friend  !  No,  I  will 
be  her  friend,  and  bring  our  priest  to  attend  her  and  give 
her  the  holy  sacrament." 

"  You  alarm  me,"  said  Mrs.  Hunting.   "  What  ails  Augus 
tine?     Say!" 

"  I  can  not ;  to  relate  it  would  make  me  sick  too,  it  is 
dreadful  to  take  sick  so  suddenly.  Grandfather  is  in  the 
house,  he  can  tell  you  all  about  it." 

Mrs.  Hunting  felt  quite  relieved  when  she  heard  that  her 
father-in-law  was  yet  in  the  house — there  is  nothing  like  it, 
to  have  a  man  in  the  house  when  there  is  trouble. 

"  Grandpapa,  where  are  you  ?"  called  Mrs.  Hunting. 

"  In  the  kitchen/' 

Mrs.  Hunting  went  there.  "  What  are  you  doing  in  the 
kitchen?"  asked  she,  good  naturedly. 

"I  am  admiring  the  kitchen  utensils,  how  clean  and  pol- 


18  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

ished  they  are,  and  I  am  calculating  what  labor  it  must  have 
required  to  bring  them  to  such  perfection." 

"  My  cook  is  an  excellent  girl,  I  never  had  one  like  her, 
I  am  sorry  to  hear  that  she  took  ill ;  she  was  well  this 
morning:  what  did  happen  since  I  was  gone?  The  other 
girl  cries  and  thinks  that  the  cook  is  dying." 

"  Nothing  unusual  happened  except  that  the  girl  received  a 
letter  from  Germany,  which  so  affected  her  that  she  fainted. 
I  revived  her  and  assisted  her  to  her  room  ;  but  what  a  poor 
room  you  have  for  your  girls,  and  what  a  wretchedly  poor 
bed  !  The  mattress  is  as  hard  as  if  filled  with  paving 
stones  ;  and  such  scanty  bed-covering,  and  no  facilities  to 
warm  the  room.  How  could  you  be  so  negligent  of  the 
comfort  of  your  servants  !  " 

A  deep  blush  mantled  the  face  of  Mrs.  Hunting  ;  she  felt 
that  the  accusations  of  her  noble  father-in-law  were  well 
founded,  and  humbly  replied  : 

"  I  have  often  thought  that  the  room  was  not  good  enough, 
and  ought  to  be  provided  with  a  better  bed  and  bedding,  but 
it  always  escaped  my  memory.  I  will  attend  to  it  forthwith." 

"Do,  and  practice  the  religious  teachings,  •  Do  unto 
others  as  you  would  others  to  do  unto  you,' "  remarked  the 
old  gentleman,  feelingly. 

Both  left  the  kitchen  and  went  in  the  sitting-room,  where 
they  were  met  by  the  daughters,  who  had  just  returned  from 
their  ride.  They  kissed  their  mother  and  grandfather  very 
affectionately. 

"  Mother,"  asked  they,  in  one  voice,  "  is  dinner  ready  ?  the 
ride  gave  us  a  sharp  appetite." 

"  No,"  answered  the  mother,  "the  cook  took  ill,  and 
there  is  nothing  done.  Ellen  is  yet  cleaning  the  parlor." 

"  The  cook  is  sick  and  no  dinner  ready  !  Who  shall  cook 
the  dinner?"  asked  the  daughters,  bewildered. 

"  You  will  cook  the  dinner  to-day,"  said  the  grandfather. 

"  "Why,  grandpapa,  we  don't  know  how  to  cook  a  dinner  ; 
ice  never  kindled  a  fire  in  a  stove,  we  never  pealed  a  potato, 
we  never  made  dough.  "We  would  burn  and  cut  our  fingers 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  19 

and  soil  our  clothes ;"  looking  at  their  dainty  hands  and 
pretty  clothes.  "  We  would  rather  do  without  a  dinner  than 
cook  one." 

"And  how  long  can  you  do  without  a  dinner?"  asked  the 
grandfather,  sneeringly. 

a  We  can  not  tell,"  said  the  young  ladies,  laughing.  "  "We 
have  never  tried." 

"  I  pity  you  and  those  who  will  marry  you.  You  don't 
know  how  to  cook  even  the  plainest  dinner  and  must  depend 
solely  upon  others ;  or  else  you  are  compelled  to  go  to  a 
boarding-house,  or  to  a  restaurant,  where  you  have  to  pay 
tenfold  above  what  it  would  cost  at  home,  if  prepared  by 
your  own  hands." 

The  young  ladies  were  greatly  astonished  to  hear  such 
language  from  their  grandfather:  they  never  had  known 
him  to  speak  to  them  thus.  At  last  they  said  :  "  Grandfather, 
don't  be  angry  with  us,  it  is  not  our  fault  if  we  do  not  know 
how  to  cook  a  dinner  :  we  never  have  learned  it,  we  never 
have  been  brought  up  to  it,  but  we  understand  other  things, 
of  far  greater  importance." 

"And  what  is  it?  "  asked  the  old  gentleman,  quickly. 

"We  know  French,  Greek,  Latin,  besides  our  English 
language.  We  know  mathematics  well,  we  can  draw  nicely 
and  play  beautifully  on  the  piano,  and  have  also  some  knowl- 
edge of  astronomy,  which  is  our  latest  study." 

"All  very  nice,"  replied  the  grandfather,  "  if  you  are  pre- 
paring yourselves  to  become  teachers  of  foreign  languages, 
drawing,  or  music  masters,  or  astronomers ;  but  as  your  aim 
is  to  get  married  and  become  wives  of  farmers,  mechanics, 
merchants,  or  some  other  professional  men,  it  is  your  first 
duty  to  know  how  to  cook,  to  wash,  to  iron,  to  scrub,  to  sweep 
and  dust  a  room,  to  make  up  a  bed,  to  sew,  to  darn,  and  to 
put  everything  to  the  best  use ;  to  know  the  value  of  money, 
and  the  value  of  time.  Then  you  can  safely  rely  upon 
yourselves,  and  becoming  wives  and  mothers,  you  will  find 
your  reward  in  true  happiness  and  real  contentment.  To 
sacrifice  all  this  on  the  altar  of  fashion  and  outward  splendor, 


20  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

would  be  not  only  ruinous  to  your  health  and  constitution, 
but  also  an  impediment  to  marriage,  and  a  stumbling  block 
to  genuine  success. 

"  I  do  not  blame  you  for  not  knowing  how  to  prepare  a 
dinner,  but  I  blame  myself,  my  son,  and  your  mother,  for 
giving  you  the  wrong  education  ;  of  that  which  you  ought  to 
learn  the  most  you  learn  the  least.  It  is  a  sad  mistake,  and 
must  receive  our  serious  attention  to  rectify  it,  without  delay." 

All  listened  attentively  to  what  grandfather  said,  but  only 
the  words,  an  impediment  to  marriage,  rang  in  the  ears  of 
Mrs.  Hunting,  for,  next  to  her  vanity  to  outshine  everybody 
in  show  of  style,  there  was  no  other  wish  so  dear  to  her 
heart,  as  to  see  her  daughters  well  married  ;  "  they  were 
beautiful,  graceful  and  socially  charming;  many  worthy 
young  men  paid  them  attention,  still  none  of  them  proposed. 
Did  they  know  that  her  daughters,  so  resplendent  in  the 
parlor  and  reception-room,  were  domestically  helpless?" 
Her  thoughts  were  interrupted  by  the  appearance  and  voice 
of  her  husband. 

"Why,"  said  he,  "you  all  look  so  serious;  has  anything 
happened  ?" 

"  Yes,"  answered  Mrs.  Hunting;  "the  cook  took  ill,  and 
there  is  no  dinner  ready." 

"  That  is  bad  business,"  remarked  the  husband  ;  "then,  the 
prospects  are  that  I  can  have  no  dinner  at  home  to-day?" 

«"Yes,  dear,  you  had  better  dine  down  town  to-day," 
motioning  to  take  his  father  with  him. 

The  good-natured  and  accommodating  husband  understood 
what  his  wife  meant,  and  readily  said  :  "  Yes  ;  I  will  go  and 
dine  at  Beininger's  ;  father,  do  please  come  with  me,  Beinin- 
ger  furnishes  capital  dinners." 

"No  doubt  he  does,  and  charges  a  capital  price,"  remarked 
the  old  gentleman.  "No,  I  thank  you,  I  prefer  to  dine  at 
home ;  I  will  go ;  my  good  old  housekeeper  will  be  waiting 
with  the  dinner." 

Both  father  and  son  left  the  house  somewhat  dissatisfied. 

"Edward,  my  son,  expect  me  to-morrow  evening,  1  have 


A  TALE   OP    REAL   LIFE.  21 

much  on  my  mind  to  say  to  you,"  said  the  father  when 
parting. 

"  I  will  wait  for  you,  father,"  replied  the  son,  with  a  re- 
spectful bow. 

Arriving  at  Beininger's,  he  saw  two  beautiful  cakes  taken 
on  a  litter  from  the  store.  "  What  fine  cakes  !  What  is 
the  price  of  them,  Mr.  Beininger?"  asked  Mr.  Edward  Hunt- 
ing, carelessly. 

"  Fifty  dollars,"  answered  the  confectioner. 

"  Fifty  dollars  !  "  said  Mr.  Hunting  to  himself;  "  they  who 
pay  fifty  dollars  for  two  cakes  must  have  more  money  than 
I  have." 

Another  gentleman  of  a  business  like  appearance,  who 
just  stepped  into  the  place,  overhearing  the  conversation, 
asked  the  confectioner :  "  How  much  did  you  say  those 
cakes  cost?" 

"  Fifty  dollars,"  was  the  prompt  reply. 

"  And  who  is  the  fortunate  purchaser  ?"  asked  the  man  of 
business,  smilingly. 

'•  Mrs.  Edward  Hunting." 

"Ah,  so!"  he  ejaculated,  and  proceeding  into  the  dining 
room,  took  a  chair  near  Mr.  Hunting. 

"  What  have  you  ready  ?"  asked  Mr.  Hunting  of  the  polite 
and  attentive  waiter. 

"Nothing  ready,  sir;  here  is  the  bill  of  fare;  raw,  broil 
or  roast,  anything  you  see  on  the  list,  in  ten  or  fifteen 
minutes." 

"  Well,  then,  order  a  surloin  steak  broiled,  well  done,  fried 
potatoes,  bread  and  butter,  and  a  small  bottle  of  claret." 

"Yes,  sir,  I  will  be  quick;"  and  off  went  the  waiter  to 
execute  the  order. 

Mr.  Beininger,  when  receiving  the  order  for  the  claret — 
the  wines  being  under  his  personal  charge — immediately 
stepped  up  to  the  gentleman  and  remarked,  that  he  had  just 
now  received  from  Hungary  the  famous  Tokay,  and  the 
Johannisberger,  wine  from  Prince  Metternich's  estate,  asking 


22  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

if  it  would  not  be  desirable  to  try  a  bottle  of  either,  instead 
of  the  claret. 

""What  is  the  difference  in  the  price?  "  asked  Mr.  Hunting, 
showing  some  interest. 

"  Only  four  dollars  between  the  Tokay,  and  six  dollars 
between  the  Johannisberger." 

"  So  you  ask  more  for  Johannisberger  than  for  the  Tokay. 
It  is  strange,  for  Tokay  is  rarer  and  better  wine  than  Johan- . 
nisberger,"  remarked  Mr.  Hunting. 

"  The  Johannisberger  that  I  offer  is  imported  direct  from 
the  Prince  of  Metternich's  estate,  it  cost  more" — was  the 
ready  reply. 

"  I  see,  I  see,"  rejoined  Mr.  Hunting,  sarcastically ;  "  the 
Prince's  name  attached  to  the  wine  demands  a  higher  price, 
even  if  of  an  inferior  quality.  Never  mind,  Mr.  Beininger, 
just  send  me  the  claret." 

The  suave  proprietor  gracefully  withdrew  to  execute  the 
order,  muttering  to  himself:  "  What  a  difference  there  is  to 
sell  to  those,  who  have  their  bills  paid  by  others,  than  to 
those  who  pay  themselves." 

"While  waiting  for  dinner,  Mr.  Hunting  took  from  his 
breast-pocket  a  small  memorandum  book,  and  on  looking 
over  its  contents,  he  suddenly  started. 

He  discovered,  to  his  greatest  dismay,  that  a  note,  which, 
as  he  thought,  would  only  fall  due  in  three  days,  was  ma- 
tured the  next  day,  and  that,  being  New  Year's  day,  he  was 
compelled  to  take  it  up  immediately,  this  very  same  day. 

In  spite  of  his  efforts  to  conceal  his  feelings,  his  face  grew 
a  shade  paler;  but  looking  ai-ound,  and  observing  as  his 
neighbor  at  the  table,  Mr.  John  James  La  Monte,  the  cash- 
ier of  the  bank  where  the  note  matured,  he  soon  addressed 
that  gentleman  : 

"  Glad  to  see  you;  it  is  very  disagreeable  to  dine  alone." 

"  Very,"  was  the  curt  reply  of  Mr.  John  James  La  Monte. 

"Ah!  what  does  this  mean,"  pondered  Mr.  Hunting. 
"  These  cashiers  of  banks  measure  their  friendship  only  by 
the  length  and  depth  of  one's  purse,  and  as  soon  as  they  find 


A   TALE    OF    REAL    LIFE.  23 

one  in  difficulties,  they  seem  to  put  on  "airs."  In  the  same 
familiar  tone,  he  therefore  observed  : 

"  Beininger  seems  to  be  a  very  popular  restaurant  and  con- 
fectioner; he  is  undoubtedly  making  money."1 

"He  is  even  doing  more,"  was  the  dry  reply. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  Mr.  La  Monte,  by  '  he  is  even  doing 
more?'  " 

"  I  mean  that  he  is  not  only  making  money,  but  he  keeps 
what  he  makes.  Is  not  that  doing  more?  And  are  there 
many  in  this  city  who  do  as  much?"  asked  Mr.  La  Monte, 
meaningly,  looking  Mr.  Hunting  full  in  the  face. 

Mr.  Hunting  felt  the  cutting  remark,  and  the  searching 
look,  but  he  kept  his  countenance,  saying, 

"  Yes ;  to  make  money,  and  to  keep  it,  is  a  science  which 
few  only  have  learned  to  put  in  practice." 

"  It  is  no  science  at  all ;  it  is  a  very  simple  matter,  a  mat- 
ter of  thought  and  will  only,"  rejoined  Mr.  La  Monte. 

The  dinner  was  served:  both  gentlemen  set  to  work  and 
dispatched  their  meal  quickly;  both  were  busy  with  their 
thoughts;  both  were  in  a  hurry  to  get  to  their  offices.  Mr. 
Hunting  was  continually  thinking  about  the  note  that  ma- 
tured in  an  hour  or  so;  "hence,  I  must  improve,"  thought 
he,  "  this  opportunity,  perhaps  at  dinner  he  will  be  in  a  bet- 
ter humor." 

"Waiter,' please  bring  another  tumbler,"  and  receiving  it, 
he  filled  both  glasses.  "  Mr.  La  Monte,  drink  some  of  my 
claret,  and  touching  the  proffered  glass,  he  said :  '  to  your 
health  !'  " 

"  No,  I  thank  you,  Mr.  Hunting,  for  this  kind  honor  ;  I 
never  drink  claret,  it  don't  agree  with  me;  and  beside  that, 
it  is  my  rule  not  to  drink  anything  except  water  during 
business  hours." 

"  Yery  precautions,"  remarked  Mr.  Hunting,  "  but  I  think 
hardly  necessary  for  a  gentleman  of  your  excellent  habits." 

"Good  habits  are  acquired  only  by  being  cautious,"  an- 
swered Mr.  La  Monte  promptly;  laying  down  his  napkin 
and  leaving  the  table. 


24  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

Mr.  Hunting  filled  another  glass  of  claret,  emptied  it  in 
one  draught,  and  quickly  followed  Mr.  La  Monte. 

The  cashier  noticed  this,  movement.  "  Poor  fellow," 
thought  he,  "  he  can  hardly  take  time  for  his  dinner  and 
drink  his  claret;  I  pity  him,  yet  he  ought  to  be  punished, 
for  they  are  too  extravagant,  buying  fifty-dollar  cakes  and 
paying  enormous  sums  for  other  fancy  articles  in  the  same 
proportion."  He  slackened  his  steps  and  soon  was  joined  by 
Mr.  Hunting. 

"  Mr.  La  Monte,"  said  this  gentleman,  quite  earnestly,  "  I 
have  a  great  favor  to  ask  of  you  to-day." 

"  Anything  but  money,  for  our  vaults  are  empty." 

"  I  do  not  want  money ;  but,  I  would  request  you  to  pro- 
tect my  note,  which  matures  to  day.  I  did  not  provide  for 
it,  as  I  thought  it  due  in  three  days  hence;  it  is  a  sad  over- 
sight on  my  part ;  I  will  make  it  good  the  day  after  to- 
morrow." 

"What  is  the  amount  of  that  note?"  asked  Mr.  La  Monte 
with  an  air  as  if  he  were  entirely  ignorant  of  the  transaction. 

"  Only  six  thousand  dollars." 

"  Six  thousand  dollars  is  a  large  sum  in  these  days,"  ex- 
claimed the  cashier.  "  I  am  sorry  that  the  bank  is  not  in  a 
position  to  protect  your  paper.'1 

Never  did  Edward  Hunting  hear  those  terrible  words,  to 
protect  your  paper;  and  they  were  like  so  many  daggers 
piercing  his  heart ;  a  chill  passed  over  his  whole  body,  and 
cold  sweat  drops  gathered  on  his  brow.  It  was  a  terrible 
blow  ;  but  mastering  his  feelings  he  continued  : 

"Mr.  La  Monte,  I  am  not  in  the  habit  of  asking  favors, 
but  when  I  do  ask  one,  I  expect  it  to  be  granted." 

"  Well,  I  don't  know  Mr.  Hunting,  of  late  you  have  asked 
the  bank  frequently  the  favor  to  discount  your  paper,  to  a 
greater  extent  than  you  were  entitled  ;  to  be  sure,  you  never 
have  asked  us  to  protect  your  paper ;  and  even  if  you  would, 
I  doubt  if  we  would  have  done  it;  as  it  is  against  the  rule  of 
the  bank ;  now,  it  is  entirely  out  of  the  question,  as  the  bank 
is  exhausted  of  ready  money." 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  25 

Mr.  Hunting  felt  that  it  was  useless  to  make  any  further 
appeal.  He  bowed  very  courteously,  and  left  the  cashier, 
muttering  at  the  same  time,  "Yes,  yes,  friendship  is  only 
dealt  out  according  to  the  length  of  our  purse." 

In  the  mean  time  Mr.  La  Monte  ejaculated,  while  on  his 
way  to  the  bank  : 

"The  idea!  For  a  man  in  his  embarrassed  position  to 
keep  a  palatial  residence,  fast  horses,  and  servants  in  livery, 
his  wife  buying  fifty-dollar  cakes,  and  beg  of  me  to  protect 
his  note  !  Every  day  my  wife  reproaches  me  because  we 
can  not  live  in  such  a  grand  style  as  the  Huntings.  Upon 
my  honor,  if  it  were  not  for  his  children's  sake,  I  would  be 
tempted  to  go  to  extremes." 

Mr.  Hunting  reached  his  office.  The  bookkeeper,  greatly 
excited,  immediately  came  forward,  saying  : 

"  I  am  very  glad,  Mr.  Hunting,  that  you  did  not  come  any 
later.  The  note  for  six  thousand  dollars,  which  matures  to- 
morrow, must  be  paid  to-day,  and  we  have  only  half  an  hour 
to  provide  for  it." 

"I  am  aware  of  it,"  answered  Mr.  Hunting. 

"  What  is  to  be  done  ?  where  are  we  to  get  so  large  an 
amount  in  so  short  a  time?"  asked  the  bookkeeper  anx- 
iously. 

"  How  much  money  is  there  in  the  bank  to  our  credit?" 

"  Our  bank  account  is  overdrawn  four  dollars  and  forty- 
nine  cents,"  answered  the  bookkeeper. 

"  How  is  that?     There  was  a  balance  this  morning." 

"Yes,  there  was;  but  that  fashionable  confectioner,  Bein- 
inger,  sent  in  a  bill  amounting  to  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
five  dollars  for  sundries  bought  by  Mrs.  Hunting,  and  so  ur- 
gent was  he  for  the  money,  that  I  thought  best  to  fill  your 
signed  check  for  that  amount,  and  let  him  have  it." 

"  Please,  let  me  see  that  bill?" 

The  bookkeeper  handed  the  bill  to  his  employer,  keenly 
watching  him. 

"  Great  God !"  exclaimed  Mr.  Hunting  in  great  despair, 
"  is  it  possible  that  my  wife  should  buy  two  cakes  for  fifty 


26  OUR    PROSPECTS. 

dollars,  and  two  dozen  bottles  of  wine  for  one  hundred  and 
.forty-five  dollars;  but  so  it  is,  here  is  the  bill,  and  I  saw 
the  very  cakes  on  their  way  of  delivery,  and  so  did  La  Monte, 
and  if  my  ear  did  not  deceive  me,  he  even  asked,  who  bought 
them.  What  time  did  you  give  Beininger  that  check?  " 

"  Half-past  twelve,"  answered  the  book-keeper. 

"Then  Beininger  received  the  cash  for  the  check,  before 
the  cashier  went  to  dinner;  this  explains  clearly  the  cashier's 
conduct  toward  me.  Wife !  thy  extravagance  will  shorten  my 
days  and  send  me  dishonored  to  the  grave,"  moaned  the 
unhappy  man. 

;t  Mr.  Hunting,  compose  yourself,  don't  give  away  to  such 
extreme  grief,"  begged  the  sympathizing  bookkeeper ;  be- 
sides there  are  only  twelve  minutes  left  to  take  up  that  six 
thousand  dollar  note,  which,  above  all,  must  receive  our 
immediate  attention." 

"You  are  right,  Wilkins,  that  note  must  betaken  up  at 
once.  How  much  money  have  we  on  deposit  in  our  Eastern 
bank?" 

"  Nine  hundred  and  eighty-one  dollars,  and  there  is  an 
Eastern  draft  here  for  fifty-one  dollars,  making  a  total  of  one 
thousand  and  thirty-two  dollars,"  replied  the  bookkeeper. 

"'Please,  hand  me  my  Eastern  draft  book."  Eeceiving  the 
same,  he  wrote,  with  a  clear,  bold  hand  : 

"  Pay  to  John  James  La  Monte,  cashier,  or  order,  six  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  signed,  EDWARD  HUNTING." 

"Mr.  Wilkins,  please,  take  this  draft  to  our  bank,  to  pay 
my  note  ;  take  also  this  ten  dollar  bill,  to  pay  the  exchange, 
if  demanded.  Don't  ask  me  any  question,  but  hurry  and 
bring  that  note." 

There  was  no  time  to  be  lost ;  the  bookkeeper  walked  as 
fast  as  he  could,  reached  the  bank  in  nick  of  time,  and 
handed  the  draft  in  payment  of  the  note  due. 

There  was  a  whispering  behind  the  screen  ;  the  faithful 
bookkeeper  began  to  feel  very  uneasy,  and  thought,  "  what  if 
they  should  refuse  that  draft,  for  they  know  as  well  as  I  do, 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  27 

that  we  have  not  as  much  money  in  our  Eastern  bank  as 
the  draft  calls  for.  What  would  be  the  more  disastrous  to 
our  house,  to  have  the  note  go  to  protest  or  have  the  draft 
returned  marked  no  funds."  He  had  no  further  time  for  re- 
flection, for  the  cashier  said  to  him,  "  We  have  no  need  for 
Eastern  exchange,  we  want  currency  or  city  certified  checks." 

"  It  is  not  in  our  power  now  to  bring  you  currency  or  cer- 
tified city  checks,  but  if  there  is  a  discount  on  Eastern  drafts, 
we  will,  of  course,  gladly  pay  it." 

"  Well,  I  will  charge  you  only  a  tenth,"  answered  the 
cashier. 

The  bookkeeper  gladly  handed  in  the  ten-dollar  bill,  re- 
ceived four  dollars  and  the  note  in  return,  and  left  the  bank, 
rejoicing.  ,-'.^  < 

'•  Well,  Wilkins,  have  you  got  the  sign  of  misery  in  your 
hands?"  ejaculated  Mr.  Hunting  in  a  strange  voice. 

"Do  you  mean  the  note?"  asked  the  bookkeeper,  greatly 
alarmed  by  the  strange  looks  and  tone  of  Mr.  Hunting. 

''Yes,  my  boy,"  answered  Mr.  Hunting,  at  the  same  time 
filling  a  large-sized  tumbler  with  good  old  brandy,  and  put- 
ting it  to  his  lips. 

"Good  God!"  exclaimed  the  bookkeeper.  He  made  one 
bound,  snatched  the  tumbler  from  his  employer's  hands,  and 
threw  it,  bottle  and  all,  out  of  the  window  in  the  rear  of  the 
building. 

"  What  insolence  !  What  does  this  mean  ?"  exclaimed  Mr. 
Hunting,  greatly  enraged.  "  I  know  that  I  am  not  master 
in  my  house,.but  I  will  be  still  so  in  my  counting-room." 

"Sir,"  exclaimed  the  bookkeeper,  "I  would  rather  die 
than  treat  you  with  disrespect;  but  I  am  only  doing  for  you 
what  you  did  for  me  years  ago,  when  you  picked  me  up  a 
drunkard,  treated  me  so  kindly,  trusted  me,  whom  none  else 
would  trust.  What  I  am,  and  what  I  have,  I  owe  to  your 
timely  assistance;  and  now  is  my  turn  to  repay  that  kind- 
ness. Shall  I  abstain  from  doing  my  duty  ?  No,  never!" 

"  Don't  be  alarmed,  Wilkins  ;  I  am  not  going  to  get  drunk. 
I  only  took  some  of  that  brandy  as  a  stimulant.  You  must 


28  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

know  that  I  have  overdrawn  my  Eastern  bank  account  sev- 
eral thousand  dollars,  and  that  I  am  at  a  loss  how  to  make 
that  account  good  before  my  draft  is  presented.  I  managed 
to  make  a  plausible  excuse  for  making  that  draft  of  six  thou- 
sand dollars,  by  writing  the  cashier  of  the  Eastern  bank  that 
I  inclosed  a  draft  of  fifty-one  hundred  dollars,  to  be  placed 
to  my  credit.  He  will  quickly  perceive  that  the  draft  I  in- 
closed is  only  fifty-one  dollars.  If  the  draft  would,  in  fact,  be 
fifty -one  hundred  dollars,  with  the  actual  deposit  of  nine 
hundred  and  eighty-one  dollars,  I  would  be  entitled  to  draw 
six  thousand,  and  leave  a  small  balance.  It  is  a  trick,  it  may 
answer  the  purpose;  but  it  is  unworthy  of  a  gentleman.  It 
depresses  my  mind,  and  so  1  need  a  stimulant  to  buoy  me  up. 
It  is  a  pity  that  you  threw  it  out  of  the  window." 

"  The  prospect  is  that  if  you  had  taken  more  of  that  stim- 
ulant, it  would  have  entirely  prostrated  you,  instead  of  buoy- 
ing you  up,  and  you  would  not  have  been  able  to  state  what 
you  have  done,"  remarked  the  bookkeeper,  earnestly.  "  Here 
is  that  note.  Now  let  us  consider,  without  stimulants,  how  to 
provide  for  the  prompt  payment  of  that  draft.  I  would 
suggest  writing  to  the  cashier  of  the  Eastern  bank  myself, 
inclosing  that  fifty-one-dollar  draft  as  a  draft  for  fifty-one 
hundred  dollars.  The  day  after  to-morrow  you  can  tele- 
graph that  your  bookkeeper  made  a  mistake,  that  the  draft 
should  have  been  .indicated  in  the  letter  as  for  fifty-one,  with- 
out the  hundreds,  and  asking  him  to  honor  your  draft  nev- 
ertheless, that  funds  are  forwarded  to  make  the  account 
good." 

"  You  are  a  noble  fellow,  Wilkins.  Yes,  you  may  destroy 
my  letter,  and  write  one  yourself.  I  feel  humiliated  and 
disgraced  to  set  you  such  an  example.  It  was  a  terrible 
struggle,  but  I  had  to  save  my  paper,  and  through  it  my 
credit.  O,  those  happy  days!  when  I  could  give  a  note  and 
honor  it  promptly,  and  without  any  difficulty.  They  will 
never  return  !" 

"If  you  reflect  and  reason  calmly,  the  prospects  are  that 
they  will,"  said  the  bookkeeper,  hopefully. 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  29 

"  To  reflect  and  reason  calmly  is  beyond  my  power.  I  am 
so  harassed,  the  responsibilities  which  I  have  contracted  de- 
press my  mind,  I  am  always  in  hot  fire.  I  get  nervous,  and 
then  I  feel  a  desire,  no,  a  necessity,  to  have  recourse  to 
stimulants.  It  is  a  pity  you  threw  that  genuine  liquor  out 
of  the  window.  I  must  take  some  of  it.  Suppose,  Wilkins, 
you  go  and  bring  a  fresh  bottle,  please,  do ;  you  can  get  the 
best  at " 

"Please  don't  tell  me  where  I  can  get  it;  I  would  rather 
have  my  legs  cut  off  than  to  go  and  buy  intoxicating  bev- 
erages for  you.  It  would  yet  be  the  greatest  of  all  misfortunes 
that  could  happen,  to  drink  brandy  or  wine  as  a  stimulant; 
the  quantities  needed  will  increase  and  your  power  of  use- 
fulness will  decrease.  As  the  head  of  a  family,  as  the  head 
of  a  house,  and  as  one  of  the  leading  citizens,  it  is  your  most 
solemn  duty  to  reflect,  reason,  and  act  without  a  stimulant. 
If  you  feel  nervous,  lay  down  and  take  a  rest;  sleep,  a 
refreshing  sleep  will  give  you  more  strength  and  genuine 
comfort,  than  all  the  brandies  and  wines  in  the  world  ;  take 
the  time  to  rest,  and  to  sleep,  if  you  feel  nervous  and  discon- 
tented ;  it  is  the  best  remedy  to  recover  self-command,  and 
to  command  others  well,  we  must  have  the  power  to  com- 
mand ourselves." 

"Well  spoken,  Wilkins!  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Hunting,  "you 
are  right  and  I  will  follow  your  advice,"  reclining  on  tho 
sofa. 

"Do  please,  Mr.  Hunting;  it  will  do  you  good;  I  will 
finish  and  mail  the  correspondence,  and  also  make  out  a  full 
statement  of  our  affairs ;  the  books  are  balanced  for  this 
year." 

He  stepped  forth  from  behind  the  desk,  took  his  shawl  to 
cover  his  employer,  put  a  few  more  coals  in  the  grate,  and 
stirred  the  fire  into  a  bright,  cozy  flame.  Mr.  Hunting  was 
soon  asleep. 

Wilkins  proceeded  with  his  work ;  his  thoughts  were 
busy  with  the  past,  the  present,  and  the  future ;  a  heavy, 
oppressive  sigh  escaped  from  his  breast  and  tears — those  noble 


30  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

messengers  of  peace  and  comfort — stole  silently  down  his 
cheek.  .  ,, 

"  I  know,"  said  he,  "  from  bitter  experience  how  those  feel 
who  are  disappointed  in  their  fond  hopes  and  expectations, 
and  who  have  been  thrown  from  their  hight  of  ambition  and 
pride.  As  my  dearly-loved  Bella  peremptorily  refused  my 
hand  and  heart,  and  so  crushed  my  fondest  hopes,  my  happy 
prospects,  I  felt,  first  humbled  and  mortified,  then  a  bitter  in- 
dignation arose,  and,  to  keep  up  and  stimulate  this  feeling,  I 
had  recourse  to  liquors.  First  a  tumblerful  answered  the 
purpose,  then  two,  three,  and  finally  this  taking  liquors  as 
a  stimulant  only  grew  into  a  craving  appetite  for  more  and 
more.  And  what  became  of  me?  I  sank  down  lower,  day 
by  day,  in  the  estimation  of  my  fellow-men,  until  I  ceased 
to  be  a  human  being;  and  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  timely 
help  of  that  noble  man  who  sleeps  yonder,  I  don't  know 
what  would  have  become  of  me,  a  thief,  a  robber,  an  outcast 
of  the  world !  Edward  Hunting !  with  veneration  do  I 
utter  thy  name,  thou  hast  been  my  savior.  -No  priest,  of 
whatsoever  creed,  knew  how  to  appeal  to  me  with  a  more 
fervid  eloquence  than  you  did,  to  reform  and  save  me  from 
utter  ruin  and  degradation.  I  mourn  and  weep  to  behold 
you,  the  kind  and  charitable  man,  on  the  threshold  of  becom- 
ing a  drunkard. 

"God,  thou  Father  of  mankind,  creator  and  preserver  of 
this  vast  universe,  I  pray  and  implore  Thee  to  avert  this 
calamity  from  my  unhappy  friend  and  benefactor,  for  it  is 
the  most' terrible  punishment  to  become  and  be  a  drunkard, 
a  walking,  and  often  a  rolling  shame  to  mankind,  a  human 
being  with  beastly  desires,  void  of  all  the  nobler  and  better 
feelings,  with  love,  and  knowledge  of  right  and  wrong  con- 
sumed and  erased  by  that  burning  fire." 

A  flow  of  tears  interrupted  this  heartfelt  prayer,  and  with 
the  same  fervency  he  continued: 

"  Thou  merciful  and  loving  Father,  whose  mercy  and  kind- 
ness are  revealed  in  everything,  save  men  from  drunken- 
ness, that'they  may  remain  what  thou  hast  created  them — 


A   TALE    OF    REAL   LIFE.  31 

human  beings,  and  be  useful  to  their  fellow-men,  and  recog- 
nize Thee  as  the  giver  of  all  that  is  good,  to  render  praise 
and  thanksgiving  only  to  Thee.  And  now,  heavenly  Father, 
sustain  me  in  my  work  and  endeavor  to  save  this  man,  my 
benefactor,  from  becoming  what  I  have  been. 

"  Bless  me,  heavenly  Father,  with  perfect  health,  wisdom 
and  an  unblemished  will  to  do  good,  while  sojourning  on 
earth,  that  my  soul  may  return  to  the  heavenly  regions  un- 
soiled,  and  exist  in  everlasting  bliss. 

"  Praying  is  noble,  it  ennobles  us ;  but  to  act  noble,  is  the 
noblest  of  all.  1  will  consecrate  my  life  to  serve  him  who 
has  saved  me  from  an  ignoble  destruction.  My  thoughts,  my 
energy  shall  be  entirely  devoted  to  him  and  his.  Wherever 
I  can  reach,  directly  or  indirectly,  I  will  endeavor  to  cause 
sunshine  and  no  clouds." 

Finishing  his  mail,  he  lightly  stepped  from  the  counting- 
room,  hurried  to  the  Post-office,  deposited  the  letters,  and 
quickly  went  back  to  his  office,  setting  himself  to  work  to 
write  out  a  complete  statement  of  credit  and  debit.  He  had 
just  finished,  when  Mr.  Hunting  awoke,  rubbing  his  eyes, 
saying  : 

"  What  time  is  it;  AVilkins  ?" 

"  Half  past  five,  sir.  You  seem  to  have  slept  soundly,"  ob- 
served the  book-keeper. 

"  Yes,  thank  you,  I  have  slept  well,  and  feel  much  refreshed, 
and  able  to  carry  my  load  of  cares,  responsibilities,  and  un- 
certainties. Did  you  mail  the  letters?"  remarked  Mr.  Hunt- 
ing, anxiously. 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  did,  and  am  now  ready  to  lay  before  you  the  in  - 
ventory  complete,  showing  exactly  our  doings  of  the  year  just 
closed,  with  its  results  and  bearings  on  our  commercial  fu- 
ture." 

Slowly  Mr.  Hunting  arose  from  the  sofa,  went  to  the  wash- 
stand,  and  washed  his  hands,  face  and  head.  He  took  a 
tumblerful  of  water,  and  said,  "  Water,  after  all,  is  the 
only  real  refreshing  draught.  Water  shall,  henceforth,  be 


32  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

the  only  liquid  that  I  will  drink,  until  I  shall  again  enjoy 
the  blessing  of  being  master  over  my  desires  and  self." 

"  That  is  a  noble  resolution,"  exclaimed  the  faithful  book- 
keeper, joyfully.  "  May  God  sustain  you  in  your  resolve." 

"  Fear  not,  Wilkins ;  I  will  be  firm,  and  the  Almighty 
Father  will  sustain  me.  Now  to  work." 

Wilkins  opened  the  great  ledger,  and  pointed  out: 

"  The  last  year's  inventory  shows  that  the  estimated  mar- 
ket value  of  your  real  and  personal  property  amounted  to 
three  hundred  and  forty-nine  thousand,  nine  hundred  dollars 
and  fifty-two  cents,  as  follows : 

REAL   ESTATE. 

Private  residence  and  lot $  60,000.00 

Four  dwellings  and  one  tenant  house 

and  lots , 50,000.00 

Unimproved  lots  in  various  parts  of 

the  city 25,000.00 

Pew 2,500.00   - 

2,000  acres  of  land  in  Kansas  and  Ne- 
braska   10,000.00 

Total  real  estate $147,500.00 

PERSONAL   PROPERTY. 

Household    furniture,    including    pi- 
anos, pictures  and  library 10,000.00 

Carriage  and  buggy 2,000.00 

Three  horses,  harness  and  saddle 2,500.00 

Stock  of  merchandise 115,220.23 

Book  account 67,771.36 

Cash  on  hand  and  in  bank 1,000.00 

Store  and  office  furniture 2,500.00 

Dray,  express,  wagon 800.00 

Two  horses  and  harness 600.00 

$202,400.59 


Grand  total $349,900.59 

"  Say  three  hundred  and  forty-nine  thousand,  nine  hun- 
dred dollars  and  fifty-nine  cents.  The  real  estate  has  mate- 
rially declined  in  value,  owing  to  the  extraordinary  high  rate 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  66 

of  interest  our  government  pays,  and,  besides,  your  dwelling 
and  tenant  houses  are  very  much  out  of  repair,  and  in  conse- 
quence they  are  half  the  time  unoccupied,  and  when  occu- 
pied, the  tenants  are  of  such  character  that  they  do  not  pay 
one-eighth  of  the  rent  specified.  The  books  show  that  we 
did  not  collect  rent  enough  to  pay  the  taxes  on  that  prop- 
erty, and  your  own  private  residence,  although  it  cost  more 
than  $60,000,  would  not  bring  near  as  much  ;  and  the  unim- 
proved lots,  valued  at  $25,000,  are  still  surrounded  by  a  poor 
neighborhood  ;  as  for  the  land  in  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  it  is 
hard  to  tell  whether  it  is  actually  worth  as  much  as  invoiced 
last  year.  Until  now,  all  this  real  estate  has  been  of  no  rev- 
enue, if  anything,  it  is  a  drawback,  as  the  taxes  have  to  be 
paid  out  of  the  funds  of  the  business." 

"  Your  views  are,  in  the  main,  correct;  but,  I  think  that  the 
land  in  Kansas  and  Nebraska  is  of  far  greater  value  ;  rail- 
roads have  been  built  in  their  neighborhood,  and  who  can 
tell  whether  a  city  will  not  spring  up  on  its  very  border,  its 
value  would  then  be  of  millions,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Hunting, 
enthusiastically. 

"  It  may  and  may  not,  but  that  is  a  matter  of  a  far-off 
future;  it  is  the  present  we  must  guard  well,  the  future  will 
take  good  care  of  itself;  to  be  successful,  we  must  avoid  de- 
ceiving ourselves;  that  we  are  much  wealthier  and  have 
greater  abilities  than  we  really  possess.  Most  of  the  mis- 
fortunes that  befall  men  in  every  station  of  life,  may  be 
traced  back  to  them  for  having  overrated  their  strength  and 
ability  ;  let  us  not  bo  among  their  number  ;  let  us  know  our 
exact  strength  and  then  use  it  judiciously,"  remarked  the 
bookkeeper,  earnestly. 

"  I  believe  that  a  merchant  improves  his  standing  by 
showing  a  good  front ;  just  put  the  real  estate  down  at  the 
same  figures  as  last  year  and  add  ten  per  cent,  to  the  value 
of  the  unimproved  lots  and  land  in  Kansas  and  Nebraska," 
said  Mr.  Hunting,  determinedly. 

Mr.  Wilkins  made  no  reply,  but  made  the  proper  memo- 
randum on  his  list. 


34  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

"  Our  sales  of  last  year  amounted  to  four  hundred  and 
eighty-five  thousand  dollars,  but  owing  to  the  very  close 
competition,  the  shrinking  of  values,  the  occasional  loss  of 
debts,  and  the  fact  that  we  can  not  cash  our  purchases  'in  ten 
or  thirty  days,  and  have  the  benefit  of  the  cash  discounts,  the 
net  profits  are  very  small  and  barely  sufficient  to  pay  the  rent, 
clerk  and  book-keeper's  salaries,  National,  State,  county  and 
city  taxes,  and  sundry  expenses. 

"  The  capital  of  the  house  has  been  this  year  reduced  by 
the  following  cash  which  was  drawn,  viz  : 

Edward  Hunting,  Esq.,  personal  expenses  includ- 
ing gifts  of  charity $2,000 

Charles  Hunting,  personal  expenses,  including 

lawyer's  fees,  etc  8,000 

Familv  expenses  including  doctor's  fee,  salary  for 
coachman,  professors  of  music  and  foreign 
languages,  gardner,  servants,  dry  goods  bill, 
millinery  bills,  dress-maker  bills,  shoe  ma- 
kers bills,  grocers  bills,  butchers  bills,  tai- 
lor bills,  confectionery  bills,  hair  dressers 
bills,  and  other  sundry  bills  amounting  to....  21,801.38 

Margins  paid  on  Erie $4,000.00 

Margins  paid  on  Adam's  Express  3,500.00 

Margins  paid  on  TJ.  S.  Express 4,800.00 

Margins  paid  on  .North  Carolinas 2,200.00 

Margins  paid  on  Tennessees 4,400.00 

Total  amount  of  margins $18,900.00 

At  this  enumeration  Mr.  Hunting  exclaimed  :  "  That  was 
gambling  on  a  large  scale!  I  was  tempted  to  do  it,  in  order 
to  increase  my  gains,  to  meet  the  great  expenses  of  my  fam- 
ily, but  it  was  a  fatal  step,  a  mistake  that  I  will  never  for- 
give myself." 

"  Yes,  it  was  misfortune  ;  not  only  did  the  business  lose  a 
large  sum  of  cash  which  it  could  hardly  spare,  but  also  the 
benefit  of  your  attention  ;  your  mind  was  entirely  occupied 
with  Wall  Street,  the  rise  an-d  fall  of  stocks  ;  you  became 
nervous  and  then  commenced  to  take  stimulants  which 


A   TALE  OF   REAL   LIFE.  dO 

deprived  you  of  judgment  and  good  sense.  Thanks  to  the 
Euler  of  Heaven  and  earth,  that  you  have  resolved  to  ab- 
stain from  this  habit,  taking  stimulants,"  said  the  book- 
keeper, with  much  earnestness. 

"Yes,  Wilkins.  Wall-street  gambling  and  drinking  intox- 
icating liquors  shall  be  with  me  a  thing  of  the  past.  Please 
proceed  with  your  statement." 

Leonheart  Overbeck  overdrew  his  account $1,550 

Henry  Fastleben 1,918 

"What,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Hunting,  "those young  men  could 
no  longer  get  along  with  their  fixed  salary  of  $2,000,  and 
overdrew  their  accounts  to  such  large  amounts." 

"You  must  bear  in  mind,  Mr.  Hunting,  that  both  of  these 
young  men  are,  to  some  extent,  your  partners.  Your  agree- 
ment with  them  is  to  give  them  $2,000  salary  a  year  and  a 
certain  per  cent,  of  the  net  profits  made  in  the  business 
during  the  year.  As  partners  of  Edward  Hunting  nothing 
was  good  enough  for  them.  They  changed  their  respectable 
and  comfortable  boarding  house,  and  went  to  a  first-class 
hotel;  they  had  to  have  diamond  studs,  gold  watch  and 
chain,  diamond  rings,  and  very  fine  and  fashionable  clothes, 
cut  and  made  by  the  most  fashionable  and  dearest  tailor  in 
the  city,  and,  being  thus  handsomely  attired,  they  could  not 
afford  to  stay  at  home  to  read  useful  books,  and  improve 
their  minds  with  knowledge.  No,  they  had  to  go  around, 
and  even  hire  a  buggy  and  drive  around  to  all  kinds  of 
places  where  money  is  not  spent  but  squandered,  all  of 
which  made  great  inroads  on  their  salary,  and  when  that 
did  not  reach,  they  drew  on  the  anticipated  profit;  but 
there  was  no  profit  made  last  year,  and  they  are,  therefore, 
your  debtors,  and  poor  debtors  at  that." 

"What  do  you  mean  by  that,  Wilkins?" 

"  I  mean  by  that  that  both  Overbeck  and  Fastleben  will, 
under  the  present  arrangements,  never  be  able  to  pay  you 
that  amount,  as  their  efficiency  for  this  business  is  forever 


36  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

gone.  They  have  reached  the  pinnacle  of  their  ambition,  to 
be  partners  of  the  house,  and  as  partners  they  need  not 
work  so  hard.  Let  others  do  it,  they  have  worked  enough ; 
they  will  come  an  hour  later  in  the  business,  take  then  the 
morning  paper,  read  it  with  great  ease;  if  a  customer  comes, 
difficult  to  wait  upon,  they  call  one  of  the  clerks ;  as  for 
attending  the  stock,  that  is  out  of  question,  we  must  have 
stock  boys  for  that  purpose,  and  as  for  taking  a  trunk  full 
of  samples,  go  out  in  the  country,  make  sales  to  reliable 
firms,  and  secure  all  the  trade  they  can,  as  they  did  before 
they  became  partners,  in  any  shape  whatever,  that  idea 
never  enters  their  mind.  It  would  be  below  their  dignity, 
and  whenever  a  man  thinks  that  his  dignity  will  be  ruffled 
by  hard  work  at  his  legitimate  business,  his  usefulness  is 
not  to  be  relied  upon." 

"  Then,  you  think  the  arrangement  entered  into  between 
me  and  both  those  young  men  to  be  of  a  mutual  disad- 
vantage?" asked  Mr.  Hunting,  seriously. 

"Decidedly  so,"  answered  Wilkins,  promptly.  "These 
young  men  thought  that  you  had  to  have  them,  and  by 
entering  into  such  arrangements,  you  confirmed  their 
opinion  which  makes  them  extravagant,  overbearing  and 
careless.  Far  better  would  it  have  been  for  them  and  you 
to  let  them  try  elsewhere,  or  they  to  start  for  themselves  in 
business  at  some  rising  place,  with  which  they  could  have 
gradually  grown  up.  You  could  then  have  extended  to  them 
a  fair  line  of  credit  on  short  terms,  which  would  have  com- 
pelled them  to  live  economically,  in  order  to  meet  their  pay- 
ments promptly,  and  enlarge  their  credit  and  means, — that 
would  have  worked  to  a  mutual  advantage." 

"I  will  reflect  on  what  you  said,  Wilkins;  did  we  draw 
anything  more  to  be  deducted  from  the  capital?" 

"  Yes,  sir.  Five  thousand  and  eleven  dollars  interest  paid 
as  discount  on  our  notes." 

At  this  item  of  expenditure,  Mr.  Hunting's  face  grew 
pale,  and  he  nervously  exclaimed  "  Is  there  anything  more  to 
be  deducted  from  the  capital?  " 


A  TALE   OF   EEAL   LIFE.  37 

"I  am  glad  to  say  that  that  is  all,"  answered  Mr.  Wilkins. 

"Well,  how  much  do  you  make  the  whole  amount?" 

"  Exactly  fifty-nine  thousand  and  one  hundred  and  eighty 
dollars  and  thirty-eight  cents." 

"It  is  a  large  sum,  a  very  large  sum  to  lose  in  one  year," 
said  Mr.  Hunting,  in  a  depressed  tone. 

"  It  is,  and  it  is  seriously  felt  in  our  business,  for  we  must 
take  into  consideration  that  although  the  ledger  shows  a 
large  capital,  only  a  little  of  it  is,  active.  Tour  real  estate, 
amounting  to  8147,500,  'brings  no  income,  except  that  you 
save  rent  for  your  private  residence,  which,  however,  is 
counterbalanced  by  the  tax  and  repairs.  You  have  to  pay 
to  keep  that  residence  in  proper  order.  The  same  can  be 
said  of  the  rest  of  real  property,  so  that  the  amount  of 
$147,500  is  of  no  avail  to  the  business.  Of  your  personal 
property  there  has  to  be  deducted  for 

Household  furniture $  10,000 

Horses,  harness,  carriages 4,500 

Store,  office  furniture 2,500 

Business  wagons,  horses 1,700 


Total $  18,700 

Add  to  this  the  loss  of. 59,181  38 


Total $  77,581  38 


Deduct  now  from  the  personal  property  of. $202,400  59 

The  above  sum 77,581  38 


Total , $124,819  21 

Now,  from  the  sum  of  $124,819  21  has  to  be  deducted  at  least 
$20,000  from  the  stock,  which  is  not  active,  and  $15,000  from 
the  outstanding  debt,  which  is  not  reliable.  It  is  good  as 
long  as  it  is  nursed,  by  collecting  a  part  and  furnishing 
more  goods,  or  at  least  as  much  as  there  is  collected.  This 
$35,000  has  also  to  be  deducted  from  the  sum  of  $124,819  21, 
leaving  the  pitiful  sum  of  $89,819  21,  say  eighty-nine  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  nineteen  dollars  and  twenty-one 


38  DUE  PROSPECTS. 

cents  active  capital  to  supply  the  following  fixed  expendi- 
tures for  the  year : 

Store  rent 8  4,500 

Salary  to  Frank  Wilkins,  bookkeeper 2,000 

"        Leonheart  Overbeck,  salesman 2,000 

"         Henry   Fastleben,  salesman 2,000 

"        Joel  B.  Brown             «         1,200 

«         Ulrich  W.  Jones         "         1,200 

"        Anton  G-oldfinger        "         800 

"         Frantz  Martinowsky,  porter 600 

"        Patrick  O'Brien,  hostler 450 

Horse  feed,  shoeing,  and  wagon  and  harness  repair, 

estimated 350 

Insurance 1,000 

National,  state,  county,  and  city  tax 5,500 

Water  rent   and   private  watchman,  stationery,  and 

sundries 1,000 

Total 822,600 

Add  to  it  your  private  and  family  expenses,  and  the  load  is 
too  heavy  for  the  active  capital.  The  prospects  are  that  if 
the  proper  remedies  are  not  promptly  applied,  it  will  break 
down  and  carry  the  house  with  it  in  its  fall,"  said  the 
careful  bookkeeper,  with  energy. 

"Not  so  loud,  not  so  loud,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Hunting,  in  a 
whisper;"  some  one  may  overhear  us.  You  draw  a  gloomy 
picture.  It  makes  me  shiver  to  contemplate  it  in  details. 
It  is  very  unpleasant,  very  disagreeable,  mortifying,  and 
annoying  to  find  that  we  are  not  as  rich  as  we  supposed 
to  be.  You  have  dissected  and  analyzed  my  affairs  cleverly. 
They  show  me  that  I  am  a  poor  rich  man ;  poor,  because  I 
live  in  a  style  far  above  my  means  and  income." 

"  That' s  it,  that 's  it !"  exclaimed  the  bookkeeper,  as- 
sentingly. 

"  I  felt  all  the  time  that  I  did  not  make  enough  of  money 
to  warrant  such  expenditures.  I  tried  to  curtail  them,  but 
we  married  men  can  not  always  do  as  we  like:  then  I  embarked 
in  that  damnable  business  (excuse  that  oath)  of  buying  Erie, 
Adams  Express,  United  States  Express,  North  Carolina,  and 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  39 

Tennessee  State  bonds  on  margin.  If  there  is  anything  de- 
moralizing, robbing  a  man  of  his  better  self,  and  making  a 
rogue,  scoundrel,  and  scamp  of  him  in  the  shortest  space  of 
time,  it  is  to  enter  Wall  Street  and  buy  and  sell  on  margin. 
Thousands  have  fallen  by  the  tempting  ray  that  illuminates 
the  whole  country  to  allure  the  young  and  old,  the  rich  and 
poor,  and  such  importance  has  it  assumed  that  its  doings  are 
telegraphed  every  minute  throughout  the  day.  Could  all  the 
victims  of  Wall  Street  rise  in  one  body,  it  would  be  the  most 
formidable  army  that  history  ever  recorded,  and  could  those 
millions  of  tongues  relate  their  anxieties,  their  trials,  and  the 
horrible  crimes  that  they  have  committed  on  account  of  Wall 
Street,  the  whole  nation  would  cry  out  with  one  voice  that 
such  demoralizing  speculations  as  are  conducted  in  Wall 
Street  should  be  prohibited  by  the  Legislature.  Let  me  hope 
that  a  statesman  will  be  born  who  will  devise,  and,  through  his 
matchless  eloquence,  carry  a  measure  through  our  national 
legislative  bodies  to  rid  the  country  of  that  '  monstrous 
demon '  that  corrupts  the  best  men  of  our  land,  and  whose 
doings  have  a  blighting  effect  on  every  man,  woman,  and 
child,  to  the  remotest  part  of  our  vast  domains.  It  is  a  living 
curse  to  the  nation,  and  it  ought  to  be  blotted  out  and  sup- 
pressed. The  sooner  the  better. 

"Would  to  G-od  it  had  been  suppressed  before  my  time," 
continued  Mr.  Hunting,  scornfully ;  "  then  I  would  have 
retained  the  love  and  confidence  of  my  noble  father." 

At  these  words  the  bookkeeper  leaped  from  his  high 
stool,  greatly  alarmed,  exclaiming :  "  What,  Mr.  Hunting, 
you  do  no  longer  enjoy  the  love  and  confidence  of  your 
noble  old  father!  that  is  a  great  misfortune,  for  I  have 
calculated  that  he  will  advance  the  sum  so  urgently  needed 
to  cover  the  draft  on  our  Eastern  bank." 

"You  miscalculated  then,  Wilkins.  It  would  be  useless  to 
appeal  to  him  for  help.  He  heard  of  my  speculating  in  Wall 
Street,  and  he  threatened  to  disinherit  me  and  mine  if  I  do 
not  cease  speculating  in  any  form  whatsoever,  in  Wall  Street 
or  outside  thereof.  I  gave  him  my  word  of  honor  not  to 


40  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

speculate  any  more,  but  he  dismissed  me,  tauntingly  say- 
ing, 'A  man  who  buys  on  margin  and  speculates  in  Wall 
Street,  his  word  of  honor  can  not  be  firmly  trusted  in.  1  will 
watch  you.'  Wherever  I  go  these  words  haunt  me.  Still  I 
can  not  blame  my  father.  He  is  right.  I  deserve  his  mis- 
trust, and  if  I  would  now  call  on  him  for  assistance,  that 
mistrust  would  be  strengthened,  and  he  would  not  assist  me, 
but  say,  'You  brought  yourself  into  that  trouble ;  now  help 
yourself;  work  out  your  own  salvation;  paddle  your  own 
canoe,  my  boy;  you  are  old  enough.'  No,  it  would  be 
worse  than  useless  to  appeal  to  my  father  for  a  loan." 

"  Where,  then,  will  we  get  that  large  amount  of  money  in 
so  short  a  time  to  provide  for  the  draft?"  asked  Mr.  Wilkins, 
knitting  his  brow  and  scratching  his  head. 

"  That  is  a  serious  question,  where  to  get  the  money  in 
time  to  cover  the  draft.  If  the  draft  should  come  back 
marked  '  no  funds  here,'  it  would  greatly  injure  my  credit 
here  and  East.  I  have  now  already  to  pay  one  per  cent,  a 
month,  while  last  year  I  could  get  my  paper  discounted  with 
seven  to  eight.  This  shows  that  the  business  world  knows 
my  affairs  well.  It  is  unfortunate  that  Mrs.  Hunting  pur- 
chased to-day  such  expensive  cakes  and  wines,  and  that 
Beininger  collected  the  check  so  promptly.  If  it  had  not 
been  for  that,  our  cashier  would  have  protected  my  note  for 
a  few  days;  but  he,  no  doubt,  thought  if  that  man's  wife  buys 
fifty-dollar  cakes  and  such  expensive  wines,  let  him  meet  his 
note  promptly.  I,  in  his  place,  would  have  acted  the  same. 
It  is  wonderful  what  effect  such  a  small  affair  has  on  the 
prosperity  of  a  man." 

"  But  this  is  no  small  affair,  for  a  wife  to  buy  such  expens- 
ive confectioneries." 

"  Stop  !"  interrupted  Mr.  Hunting;  "  You  may  tell  me  all 
you  please  about  our  business,  and  our  prospects  in  business; 
but  as  regards  my  home  affairs,  I  beg  you  to  be  silent." 

The  bookkeeper's  face  plainly  showed  his  indignation,  but 
he  calmly  said : 

"  Mr.  Hunting,  it  is  very  painful  to  me  to  allude  to  your 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  41 

family  matters,  but  as  a  sincere  friend  to  your  house,  I  feel 
it  to  be  my  duty  to  point  out  to  you  the  great  danger  that 
threatens  your  business.  The  active  capital  is  greatly  re- 
duced by  the  extraordinary  large  expenses  of  your  family. 
We  are  drifting  to  utter  ruin  !  Yes,  this  very  day  we  had  to 
overdraw  our  Eastern  bank  account,  to  save  our  note  from 
protest ;  and  now  we  are  at  a  loss  how  to  meet  our  draft  in 
time.  Had  the  expenses  of  your  family  been  ten  thousand 
dollars  less  last  year,  we  would  not  now  find  ourselves  in 
such  a  dilemma.  You  have  stated,  yourself,  that  you  were 
compelled  to  make  more  money,  in  order  to  meet  the  ex- 
penses of  your  family,  and  that  you  were  tempted  to  specu- 
late in  Wall  street;  and  still — " 

"  And  still !"  interrupted  Mr.  Hunting,  in  a  commanding 
voice.  "  I  beg  you  not  to  refer  to  my  family  expenses ;  that 
is  exclusively  my  affair."  His  cheek  flushed  with  anger  as 
he  continued :  "  If  the  active  capital  is  not  sufficient  to  pro- 
duce enough  to  cover  the  expenses,  it  shall  be  reinforced  by 
the  sale  of  all  my  dwelling  and  tenement  houses,  and  unim- 
proved lots." 

"  That  would  be  very  damaging  to  the  credit  of  your  house. 
Now  your  notes  are  negotiable,  because  the  money-lenders 
know  that  you  possess  unincumbered  real  estate ;  but  sell 
your  real  estate,  and  your  paper  will  be  rejected,  unless  it 
be  sustained  by  collaterals  as  good  as  the  money  loaned,  or 
indorsed  by  unquestionably  good  names.  Where  will  you 
get  such  collaterals,  or  such  indorsers  ?"  asked  the  book- 
keeper, respectfully. 

"  You  are  always  looking  too  far  ahead,  and  have,  con- 
stantly, the  dark  side  of  the  question  before  your  vision. 
Matters  are  not  so  dark  and  gloomy  as  you  see  them.  My 
house  is  still  strong,  and,  with  one  prosperous  year,  all  will 
be  well,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Hunting,  proudly  and  hopefully. 

"  No  one  is  more  anxious  than  I  to  strengthen  our  house 
financially,  and  to  see  it  prosperous  and  great;  and  for  these 
reasons  I  appeal  to  you  to  check  your  expenses  in  every 
quarter.  Eetrench !  retrench  the  outlays !  A  dollar  saved 


42  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

is  a  dollar  earned.  It  is  hard  to  earn  dollars  now,  when 
competition  is  so  very  great.  The  only  hope  we  now 
have  is  to  keep  what  we  possess ;  and  to  accomplish  it,  we 
must  curtail  our  expenses  everywhere,  or  our  capital  will,  in 
a  short  time,  be  exhausted.  I  beseech  you,  for  your  sake, 
and  the  sake  of  those  you  love  and  cherish,  check,  retrench, 
and  curtail  expenses  in  every  direction,  or  else  we  are  lost," 
implored  the  bookkeeper,  earnestly. 

Mr.  Hunting  felt  moved  by  the  earnest  appeal  of  the  young 
man. 

"  Mr.  Wilkins,"  said  he,  "  do  you  believe  that  only  curtail- 
ing my  expenses  will  save  me  from  ruin  ?" 

"  That  is  my  firm  conviction,"  answered  the  bookkeeper, 
readily. 

"Then,  suppose  I  commence  with  you.  Your  salary  shall, 
from  this  date,  be  reduced  to  fifteen  hundred  dollars  per  an- 
num, instead  of  two  thousand,  as  paid  heretofore,"  said  Mr. 
Hunting,  earnestly. 

"  I  am  perfectly  satisfied  with  the  reduction,  and  hope  that 
this  policy  will  be  adopted  and  carried  out,  not  only  in  your 
business,  but  also  at  home.  You  will  save  then  the  trouble 
and  the  humiliation  of  calling  at  the  bank,  with  hat  in  hand, 
requesting  to  have  your  note  discounted,  and  of  paying  one 
per  cent,  per  month  for  the  favor." 

f  You  are  right,  Wilkins.  I  have  grown  ten  years  older  in 
this  year.  My  expenses  shall  be  checked  and  curtailed 
everywhere,  but  not  your  salary — if  anything,  it  shall  be 
increased,  for  you  have  rendered  me  a  service  to-day  for  which 
I  feel  very  grateful." 

"  Please  do  not  mention  it,  for  I  never  will  be  able  to  repay 
you  for  what  you  have  done  for  me  when  I  was  an  outcast," 
exclaimed  Wilkins,  his  eyes  filling  with  tears. 

"Don't  allude  to  that  dark  period  of  your  life:  it  is  for- 
gotten by  all  except  you.  And  now  let  us  close.  You  may 
meet  me  here  at  ten  o'clock  to-morrow  morning,  and  perhaps 
the  mail  will  bring  us  some  large  drafts  which  will  cover  our 


A   TALE    OF   REAL   LIFE.  43 

overdrawn  Eastern  bank  account,"  said  Mr.  Hunting,  cheer- 
fully, as  he  put  on  his  overcoat. 

"  I  wish  we  could  hope  for  such  a  remittance ;  but  the  pros- 
pects are  gloomy,  as  our  large  outstanding  debts  are  settled 
by  note,  and  all  of  them  discounted ;  and  the  small  amounts 
are  generally  paid  by  our  customers  when  they  come  to  the 
city,  or  are  sent  per  express.  It  would  only  disappoint 
us  to  look  to  that  quarter  for  as  large  an  amount  as  would 
balance  our  draft,"  remarked  the  bookkeeper,  as  he  placed 
his  books  in  the  great  iron  safe,  and  locked  it  carefully. 

Wrapping  his  shawl  around  him,  and  turning  off  the  gas, 
both  the  employer  and  the  employe  left  the  place  of  business 
for  their  respective  homes,  bidding  each  other  good  night. 


CHAPTEK   III. 


"  THANK  God,  that  it  is  over,"  soliloquized  the  bookkeeper, 
as  he  left  Mr.  Hunting.  "  For  months  I  have  been  waiting 
for  this  interview.  I  feel  happy  that  Mr.  Hunting  at  last 
recognizes  the  pressing  necessity  of  reducing  his  expenses. 
I  will  eat  now  with  a  greater  relish,  and  my  sleep  will  be 
sound  and  refreshing.  No  I  not  to-night!  that  unprovided- 
for  draft  will  disturb  this  night's  rest.  Where  to  get  the 
money  to  protect  that  draft  in  time?  that  is  the  question." 
Mr.  Hunting,  too,  was  busy  with  his  thoughts  : 
"  It  is  wonderful,  that  that  very  young  man  whom  I,  six 
years  ago,  picked  up,  a  confirmed  drunkard,  reasoned  with, 
and  reformed,  should  this  day  have  rescued  me  from  the 
same  road,  which  leads  only  to  disgrace  and  misery.  Good 
deeds  are  not  only  rewarded  in  heaven,  but  also  on  earth. 
What  is  wealth  compared  to  the  feeling  experienced  from 
the  performance  of  a  good  deed  ?  Nothing.  What  is  a  man 


44  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

who  neglects  the  opportunity  of  doing  good?  He  is  like  a 
tree  without  leaves,  like  a  ship  without  a  compass,  the  least 
storm  uproots  and  destroys  him.  To  retrench  my  expenses 
shall  now  be  my  main  aim,  so  that  I  shall  not  be  compelled  to 
devote  all  my  time,  my  thoughts  and  energy,  to  money-making 
in  order  to  meet  the  great  outlays  which  vanity  dictates,  and 
fashion  demands.  Let  me  not  only  be  a  money-making 
man,  but  a  man  also  whose  heart  beats  for  the  unfortunate, 
whose  hand  is  always  ready  to  help  those  who  can  not  help 
themselves,  whose  voice  is  always  heard  denouncing  abuses 
that  oppress  the  many  and  benefit  the  few.  Let  me,  above 
all,  set  an  example,  in  my  mode  of  life,  worthy  for  others  to 
imitate." 

He  reached  his  residence,  and  found  it  illuminated. 

"  "What  does  this  mean  ?  Have  we  some  grand  company  ? 
I  hope  not ;  I  am  not  in  a  mood  to  entertain  them." 

He  entered  the  hall,  and  heard  one  of  his  daughters  ex- 
claim, "It  is  papa!"  and  immediately  commence  playing  on 
the  piano,  in  a  very  creditable  manner,  "Hail  to  the  Chief." 

It  was  his  favorite  air,  but  this  evening  it  did  not  accord 
with  his  feelings,  and  his  thoughts  ran  somewhat  in  this 
wise:  "I  have  been,  of  late,  a  very  poor  chief,  to  have  lost 
fifty-nine  thousand  dollars  in  one  year,  and  to  have  been  lec- 
tured by  my  bookkeeper,  whom,  out  of  charity,  I  took  into 
my  employ;  to  have  overdrawn  my  bank  account  by  the 
thousands,  and  not  able  to  plan  where  to  get  the  means  to 
cover  that  draft.  Bah !  I  am  not  worthy  the  name  of '  Chief;' 
I  am  a  dreamer !  I  must  awake,  and  do  my  whole  duty,  as 
a  husband,  a  father,  and  a  citizen." 

He  stepped  into  the  sitting-room,  listened  attentively  to 
the  music  until  finished,  and  then  praised  its  execution. 

Myra,  the  most  affectionate  of  his  daughters,  left  her  seat, 
and  going  to  her  father,  threw  her  arms  around  his  neck,  and 
kissed  him  with  all  the  fervent  love  she  really  felt. 

"Pa,"  exclaiitfed  she,  in  a  silvery  voice,  "  I  am  so  glad  you 
are  home.  You  are  late  this  evening,  and  I  began  to  feel 
uneasy." 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  45 

"Yes,"  rejoined  Miss  Agnes  and  Miss  Blanche;  "we  have 
something  to  show  you,  something  very  beautiful,  very  rare 
and  artistic,  that  mamma  bought." 

Mr.  Hunting  was  not  at  all  anxious  to  see  the  "very  beau- 
tiful, very  rare  and  artistic  "  article.  Still,  he  felt  uneasy. 
Perhaps  his  wife  had  bought  some  costly  jewels.  And  that 
thought  made  him  ask: 

"  What  is  it  that  you  pronounce  so  handsome?" 

Agnes  was  about  to  answer,  when  Myra  laid  her  hand  on 
her  mouth,  saying: 

"You  must  not.  Mamma  wants  to  surprise  papa  with  it 
to-morrow." 

"I  wonder  what  it  can  be?"  asked  the  father,  looking  at 
Blanche. 

"I  will  tell  you,  father.  It  is  an  exact  copy  of  the  crown 
of  France,  and  a  figure  representing  the  Imperial  Prince  of 
that  country.  Now  guess  what  it  is,  father,"  exclaimed 
Blanche,  with  an  arch  smile  lighting  up  her  beautiful  fea- 
tures. 

A  sigh  escaped  the  father's  manly  breast,  as  he  answered : 

"  These  must  be  the  cakes  that  caused  me  so  much  trouble 
and  anxiety." 

"Where  is  mother,  and  why  is  all  the  gas  lit?"  asked  the 
father. 

"  Mother  is  in  her  room ;  we  have  lit  all  the  lights,  because 
this  is  New  Year's  eve,  and  our  house  looks  so  handsome 
when  illuminated  ;  the  French  plate  windows  shine  and  the 
lace  curtains  show  to  a  great  advantage,"  answered  Agnes, 
proudly. 

"  Well,  daughters,  that  may  all  be  very  pretty,  but  it  don't 
look  so  beautiful  when  the  gas  bill  is  presented  to  your  poor 
father." 

"Poor  father  !  exclaimed  the  young  ladies,  in  one  chorus  ; 
"you  are  not  a  poor  father  ;  you  are  rich  ;  everybody  says  so." 

"  Everybody  don't  know  my  circumstances  as  well  as  I  do ; 
we  must  henceforth  be  saving,  and  remember  the  great  les- 
son :  '  waste  not,'  'want  not;'  and  it  is  very  bitter  to  want, 


46  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

especially  when  brought  up  in  affluence.  We  must  econo- 
mize, if  we  do  not  wish  to  be  reduced  to  want  and  poverty- 
Please  turn  off  the  gas  and  let  only  burn  the  usual  lights/' 
said  the  father,  in  a  decided  tone,  when  he  saw  his  daughters 
hesitate.  "  Yes,  turn  the  gas  off  quickly,  it  injures  my  eyes." 

The  gas  lights  were  turned  off  as  directed.  Entering  his 
wife's  room,  he  found  her  in  a  bad  humor,  and  as  she  did  not 
welcome  him,  he  said,  affectionately : 

"  Please,  dear,  hand  me  my  slippers." 

"  A  husband  that  comes  home  as  late  as  you  do,  must  wait 
on  himself,"  was  the  curt  remark  of  Mrs.  Hunting. 

"When  a  husband  has  a  wife  that  spends  as  much  money 
as  my  wife  does,  then  he  is  compelled  to  stay  longer  at  his 
office,"  said  Mr.  Hunting. 

"  That  is  your  old  story,"  she  replied. 

"Wife,  you  spend  too  much  money." 

"  You  ought  to  see  how  other  ladies  spend  money ;  when 
calling  to-day  at  Beininger's,  I  saw  two  beautiful  cakes  for 
fifty  dollars,  intended  for  that  proud  Mrs.  La  Monte,  but  I 
obtained  them;  for  my  husband  can  afford  to  have  as  nice 
cakes  on  the  New  Year's  table,  as  the  La  Montes,"  said  Mrs. 
Hunting,  triumphantly. 

"  In  that  you  are  greatly  mistaken ;  we  will  talk  of  this 
some  other  time ;  let  us  go  to  supper,  the  children  are  wait- 
ing," said  Mr.  Hunting,  offering  his  arm  to  his  wife,  who 
petulantly  said : 

"  By-the-by,  don't  expect  much  of  a  supper,  for  the  cook  is 
sick.  I  told  Ellen  to  make  tea,  and  buy  some  rolls  at  the 
baker's,  which  she  did ;  but  soon  after  went  out  with  her 
beau,  and  1  presume  by  this  time  the  tea  has  got  cold." 

"And  why  did  you  not  let  our  daughters  attend  to  it?" 
asked  the  husband. 

"Why,  Mr.  Hunting!  how  can  you  say  so?  Our  daugh- 
ters to  go  in  the  kitchen  and  attend  the  stove  and  prepare 
the  tea !"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Hunting,  in  great  surprise. 

"I  see  nothing  wrong  in  it,  that  our  daughters  should  go 
into  the  kitchen,  attend  the  fire  of  the  stove,  and  prepare  the 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  47 

evening  meal  in  the  absence  of  the  cook,"  remarked  Mr. 
Hunting,  with  sincerity. 

"  Yes,  if  they  would  have  gone  in  the  kitchen  to  do  manual 
labor,  they  could  not  have  played  for  you  as  they  did  this 
evening — '  Hail  to  the  Chief — was  it  not  splendid?"  re- 
marked the  wife  and  mother,  proudly. 

"Yes,  dear,  it  was  ;  but  it  would  have  pleased  me  much 
more,  this  evening,  if  they  had  made  some  nice,  tender  bis- 
cuit, some  baked  apples,  and  a  good  cup  of  tea,  as  you  used 
to  make  just  after  our  marriage.  It  was  a  great  mistake  that 
you  did  not  continue  to  superintend  the  cooking ;  you  could 
have  then  brought  up  the  girls  to  prepare  our  meals  in  a 
good  style,  and  we  would  not  now  be  so  dependent  on  the 
cook." 

"  You  talk  just  like  your  father  ;  you  would  have  me  to  be 
a  cook  and  our  daughters  kitchen  girls.  These  old-fashioned 
times  are  gone  by,  when  the  wife  and  the  daughters  spent 
their  time  in  the  kitchen ;  we  have,  nowadays,  something 
else  to  attend  to,"  answered  the  wife,  emphatically. 

Mr.  Hunting  made  no  remark  ;  they  entered  the  dining- 
room,  where  the  daughters  were  all  assembled,  shivering  with 
cold.  They  were  complaining  that  Ellen  went  out,  and  did 
not  attend  to  the  furnace,  that  the  fire  went  out,  and  the 
whole  house  was  getting  cold,  no  fire  in  the  stove,  and  that 
the  tea  was  cold. 

A  cold  room  and  cold  tea  for  supper,  on  a  cold  December 
evening,  is  very  cheerless,  and  so  it  proved  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hunting  and  their  three  accomplished  daughters;  they  sat 
silently  at  the  table;  the  husband  and  father  was  reflecting 
on  the  remarks  of  his  wife :  the  old-fashioned  times  are  gone 
by,  when  a  wife  and  the  daughters  spend  their  time  in  the  kitchen. 
We  have,  nowadays,  something  else  to  attend  to ;  but  of  what 
does  that  something  else  consist?  of  superfluous  refinement, 
of  outward  show,  of  high  sounding  but  empty  words  and 
empty  deeds?  of  reckless  rivalry,  who  could  appear  the 
grandest  and  who  could  spend  the  most  money,  not  for 
charity,  (when  it  comes  to  give  for  charity  everybody  is  poor), 


48  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

but  for  a  thousand  follies  that  fashion  creates,  the  greatest 
tyrant  of  civilization;  I  wish  the  fashion  would  come  out 
that  every  wife  and  daughter  was  to  cook  the  meals 
for  their  husbands  and  brothers;  there  would  be  sound 
sense  in  that,  and  fashion  would  for  once  render  humanity 
an  everlasting  benefit,  for  robust  health,  cheerfulness,  unity 
of  action  and  a  prosperous,  long  life,  would  be  the  great  re- 
sult. Eeader,  what  do  you  say  to  that  fashion?  I  see  in  my 
mind's  vision  an  approving  smile  on  every  male  countenance, 
and  the  ladies,  they,  too,  would  have  no  objection,  if  it  would 
only  be  the  fashion.  The  prospects  are,  if  that  fashion  would 
come  in  vogue,  many  a  husband  would  be  saved  from  bank- 
ruptcy; many  a  household  that  is  now  broken  up,  would  be 
saved  in  harmony,  and  many  despotic  Biddies,  who,  under  the 
present  mode  of  living  and  education,  rule  tyrannically  over 
those  who  can  not  help  themselves,  would  change  their  over- 
bearing manners. 

"  To-night  we  can  experience  how  those  poor  people  feel 
that  have  no  fuel  to  make  a  fire,  or  provisions  to  prepare  a 
meal,"  said  the  father  to  his  children. 

"  It  must  be  awful  to  be  so  poor !"  exclaimed  Blanche,  her 
eyes  filling  with  tears. 

"So  it  is,"  remarked  the  father.  "Years  ago,  before  you 
were  born,  I  often  visited  the  worthy  poor,  and  assisted  them 
with  money  and  advice." 

"And,  now,  you  do  not  visit  the  poor,  father?"  asked 
Blanche,  earnestly. 

"  No,  I  don't.  I  pay  every  year  a  fixed  sum  to  the  relief 
association,  to  be  distributed  as  the  directors  of  that  excellent 
institution  think  best." 

"  I  am  glad,  papa,  that  you  do  remember  the  poor,"  re- 
joined Blanche,  enthusiastically. 

"Still,  I  prefer  the  mode  you  first  adopted,  to  assist  the 
poor  by  visiting  them  personally  and  giving  them  your 
advice,  for  advice  is  often  worth  more  than  money,"  said 
Agnes,  looking  at  her  father  as  if  to  ask,  "  am  I  not  correct 
in  that?" 


A   TALE   OP   EEAL   LIFE.  49 

"You  are  right,  Agnes.  To  do  charity  properly  we  must 
give  it  our  personal  attention,  take  the  whole  circumstances 
of  the  poor  into  careful  consideration,  and  try  to  devise  some 
honorable  means  by  which  the  poor  can  again  become  self- 
sustaining,  for  that  is  true  charity  to  help  so  that  they  can  help 
themselves.  I  have  done  it  in  several  instances,  and  it 
makes  me  feel  happy  when  I  think  of  their  happiness,  of 
which  I  have  been  the  main  cause." 

"And  why  not  continue?"  asked  the  young  ladies, jointly. 

"  Cares,  great  cares  deprived  me  of  that  pleasure.  You 
have  no  idea  what  great  responsibilities  rest  on  my  should- 
ers; how  much  I  have  to  attend  to,  and  what  a  strife  the 
most  of  life  is,  and  daily  it  grows  more  difficult  for  me  to 
earn  the  vast  means  it  costs  to  supply  oar  wants,"  answered 
the  father,  mournfully. 

The  sisters  looked  at  each  other  and  their  mother,  for  they 
never  before  heard  their  father  speak  thus. 

"Yes,  the  times  are  hard,"  said  Mrs.  Hunting;  "but  I 
hope  that  Agnes  and  Myra  will  be  married  next  year,  and 
then  our  expenses  will  be  less." 

"The  times  are  not  hard,"  remarked  Mr.  Hunting.  "We 
make  them  hard,  and,  as  for  our  daughters,  they  shall  not 
marry  in  haste  and  repent  at  leisure.  No*  not  if  I  can  prevent 
it,"  said  the  father,  feelingly. 

The  meager  repast  being  over,  and  the  house  getting 
almost  unbearably  cold,  each  member  of  the  family  repaired 
to  their  respective  sleeping-apartments,  after  wishing  each 
other  good-night. 

The  young  ladies,  on  reaching  their  room,  carefully  closed 
the  inside  shutters,  let  the  heavy  curtains  down,  and  bolted 
the  door.  Then  one  of  them  peeped  under  the  bed  to  see 
whether  some  one  did  not  hide  himself.  Finding  every- 
thing satisfactory,  they  began  to  unrobe.  At  first  they 
loosened  their  hair,  and  hair  that  was  not  theirs,  which  they 
laid  carefully  by  the  side  of  a  very  large  quantity  of  hair- 
pins, which  explains  where  the  uncountable  millions  of  hair- 
pins that  old  and  New  England  furnfshes,  go  to.  Then  they 


50  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

unloosened  their  skirts  and  unlaced  their  corsets.  "When 
taking  the  last  article  of  dress  off  they  breathed  with  great 
relief.  "What  a  comfort,"  said  Agnes,  "to  lay  that  corset 
aside.  My  lungs  are  imprisoned  when  I  have  that  <  corset 
on,  but  one  must  wear  it  in  order  to  have  a  pretty  waist 
and  bust.  We  women  are  poor  creatures.  We  must  wear  a 
great  many  things  in  order  to  appear  according  to  fashion, 
which  is  often  injurious  to  health.  That  heavy  waterfall 
makes  my  head  ache,  but  one  might  as  well  be  without  a 
head  as  without  a  waterfall  nowadays." 

The  sisters  thought  that  she  was  right,  and  Myra,  stand- 
ing before  the  mirror,  exclaimed  :  "Agnes  and  Blanche,  what 
do  you  think  is  the  prettiest  about  me?"  The  sisters  looked 
up  and  laughed  at  such  a  question. 

"You  see  those  dimples  on  the  top  of  my  shoulders.  Come 
and  kiss  them." 

"You  are  very  considerate  to  give  us  that  permis- 
sion. But  you  had  better  go  to  bed,  or  else  you  may  catch 
cold,  and  we  will  do  the  same,"  said  Agnes,  turning  the  gas 
lower.  They  all  retired,  spoke  of  their  morning  ride,  their 
poor  dinner,  their  grandfather's  lecture,  the  cakes  with  the 
crown  of  France  and  the  imperial  prince,  the  Tokay  wine 
and  the  wine  of  the  Prince  of  Metternich's  estate,  the  father 
making  believe  that  he  was  poor,  the  very  poor  supper, 
mother's  great  desire  to  get  them  married,  father's  usual 
caution,  what  they  will  wear  to-morrow,  what  color  of  ribbon 
they  will  put  in  their  hair,  and  whether  a  natural  flower 
from  the  hot-house  will  not  appear  prettier  and  different 
than  any  of  the  other  young  ladies  of  their  station  will  wear, 
who  will  call  to-morrow,  and  whether  the  two  Counts  from 
Paris  ai*rived  at  the  La  Montes;  they  would  like  to  see 
them,  they  never  have  seen  live  Counts,  although  they  have 
read  about  Counts.  Such  and  other  similar  things  they 
spoke  until  they  fell  asleep.  They  rose  in  the  morning  with 
the  same  thoughts  of  vanity,  and  fell  asleep  with  the  same 
thoughts,  but  to  think  of  God,  to  give  Him  thanksgiving  that 
He  has  saved  them  another  day  in  health  and  prosperity, 


A   TALE  OP   REAL   LIFE.  51 

never  entered  their  refined  minds.  Still  the  blame  is  not 
theirs,  but  their  parents',  and  let  us  hope  that  they  will  be 
spared  from  the  fatal  consequences. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunting  reached  their  sleeping-apartment  in 
silence.  Both  were  busy  thinking;  the  husband  over  his 
overdrawn  bank  account,  and  the  wife  in  regard  to  marrying 
off  Agnes  and  Myra.  At  last  she  said  :  "  Mr.  Hunting,  you 
had  better  remember  that  our  Agnes  is  already  twenty  years 
of  age.  Myra  eighteen,  and  Blanche  sixteen.  It  is  now  time 
that  the  oldest  should  get  married  and  settled  in  life." 

"  There  is  no  hurry,"  answered  the  husband.  "  It  is  one 
of  the  misfortunes  of  society  now,  to  marry  the  girls  too 
young.  There  is  plenty  of  time.  If  the  girls  marry  when 
they  reach  the  age  of  twenty-three  and  twenty-four,  then 
their  physical  and  mental  capacities  are  more  fully  devel- 
oped, and  the  prospects  are  that  they  will  get  better  mated, 
and  lead  a  happy  married  life." 

"  The  Lord  save  me  that  I  should  keep  my  daughters  un- 
married until  they  reach  the  age  of  twenty-three  or  twenty - 
fjur.  That  would  be  awful.  What  ideas  for  a  father  to  en- 
tertain— to  let  his  daughters  remain  single  until  they  reach 
the  age  of  twenty-three  or  twenty-four !  Mr.  Hunting,  I 
really  believe — " 

"Don't,  Mrs.  Hunting,"  pleaded  the  husband;"  spare  me 
this  argument.  I  am  weary  in  body  and  spirit.  I  need 
repose.  I  need  to  collect  my  thoughts  on  other  important 
matters." 

"Can  there  be  anything  more  important,"  interrupted 
the  wife,  "than  to  think  and  to  talk  about  marrying  off  at 
least  two  out  of  three  marriageable  daughters?"  and  Mrs. 
Hunting  continued  on  the  same  topic  for  some  time,  but  her 
husband  did  not  hear  her.  He  was  lost  in  thought,  contin- 
ually asking  himself:  "Where,  oh!  where  will  I  get  that 
money  to  cover  my  draft !"  He  undressed  and  sought  his 
bed,  but  he  did  not  rest.  The  oppressive  anxiety  to  con- 
ceive  some  plan  where  to  make  a  raise  of  the  sum  to  make 


52  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

his  bank  account  good,  tossed  him  about  like  a  frail  ship  on 
a  stormy  sea. 

Mrs.  Hunting  would  have  slept,  if  she  only  could,  but  she 
had  to  keep  awake  in  order  to  let  her  servant  girl,  Ellen,  in; 
but  Ellen  was  in  no  hurry  to  come  home;  she  know  the 
family  needed  her  services,  for,  Augustine  being  sick,  no 
one  in  the  house  was  able  to  kindle  a  fire  in  the  stove  or 
furnace  but  herself;  hence  she  could  do  very  much  as  she 
pleased,  and  she  pleased  that  evening  to  let  her  mistress 
wait  till  midnight  to  open  the  door  for  her. 

Mrs.  Hunting  was  greatly  exasperated  at  the  long  absence 
of  her  servant.  "No,  said  she,  "she  is  not  my  servant,  I  am 
her  servant."  This  is  what  I  call  slavery,  and  so  it  is  slavery; 
the  worst  slaves  are  those  who  are  lazy ;  if  you  want  to  be  free 
and  independent,  be  active,  use  the  wondrous  senses  and  the 
matchless  mechanical  construction  with  which  nature  has  so 
richly  endowed  men  and  women  for  some  great  purposes,  but 
the  first  must  be,  to  wait  on  yourself  well,  so  that  your  per- 
sonal comfort  shall  not  depend  exclusively  on  the  whim  of 
another. 

At  last  Mrs.  Hunting  heard  the  welcome  knock  at  the  side 
door;  she  lifted  the  window,  and  asked,  "Is  it  you,  Ellen?" 

"  Yes,  mum,"  was  the  short  response. 

Mrs.  Hunting  would  have  gladly  requested  her  husband 
to  step  down  stairs  and  open  the  door,  but  his  rule  was  not 
to  open  the  door  for  any  servant  who  came  home  after  ten, 
and  so  firm  was  he  to  carry  out  that  rule,  that  his  wife  knew 
it  was  useless  to  awake  him ;  so  she  went  down  herself,  say- 
ing, "  How  hard  it  is  to  get  along  with  these  girls ;  one  sick 
and  the  other  out  till  midnight." 

Hardly  was  the  door  open  when  Ellen  asked,  "  Missus, 
have  you  been  up  in  Augustine's  room?" 

The  mistress  blushed,  for  she  had  not,  and  said,  "  You  are 
a  nice  friend  of  hers,  knowing  that  the  cook  is  sick  and  alone 
in  her  room,  and  to  come  home  so  late." 

"  And  sure  I  did  not  think  of  it,  or  I  would  have  come 
home  sooner,"  said  the  girl,  innocently. 


A   TALE   OF    EEAL    LIFE.  53 

"  Go,  now,  and  make  a  fire  in  the  furnace  that  the  house 
may  get  warmer,  and  that  some  of  the  hot  air  will  reach 
Augustine's  room  ;  also  make  a  good  cup  of  tea  for  her,  and 
you  may  bring  me  a  cup  of  tea,  I  am  cold  from  waiting  for 
you." 

"Yes,  mum;  I  will  have  the  fire  and  tea  ready  soon." 
Laying  off  her  bonnet  and  shawl  she  went  to  work,  saying, 
"  That  just  suits  me,  for  I  feel  like  drinking  two  cups  of  tea, 
and  might  as  well  while  I  am  about  it  fry  me- a  few  eggs ;  when 
eggs  cost  seventy-five  cents  a  dozen  they  seem  to  me  to  have 
a  better  taste ;  I  am  fond  of  fried  eggs,  especially  since  Au- 
gustine taught  me  to  fry  them,  turned  over." 

In  double  quick  time  she  kindled  the  fire  in  the  stove,  fried 
half  a  dozen  eggs  and  quickly  dispatched  them.  "Sure," 
said  she  to  herself,  "  if  it  would  not  be  so  late,  I  would  fry 
another  half  dozen ;  now  let  me  drink  a  cup  or  two  of  tea, 
and  then  take  a  cup  to  the  mistress  and  to  poor  Augustine." 

She  served  herself  with  a  cup  of  good  hot  tea,  exclaiming, 
"There  is  nothing  like  it,  when  one  feels  hungry  than  to  eat 
half  a  dozen  fried  eggs  and  drink  a  fresh  cup  of  tea ;  mistress 
and  Augustine  will  like  this  tea,  it  is  real  good,"  and  she 
took  a  cup  of  tea  to  each  as  directed. 


CHAPTEE    IV. 


"  Vouchsafe,  thou  wonder,  to  alight  thy  steed, 
And  rein  his  proud  head  to  the  saddle  bow; 
If  thou  wilt  deign  this  favor,  for  thy  meed 
A  thousand  honey  secrets  shalt  thou  know, 
Then  come  and  sit  where  never  serpent  hisses, 
And  being  set  I'll  smother  thee  with  kisses." 

Shakespeare. 

AT  twilight  Augustine  awoke  from  a  feverish  sleep.     She 
listened  when  the  clock  on  the  nearest  church  steeple  struck. 


54  CUE   PROSPECTS. 

She  counted  five.     "Is  it  in  the  evening  or  morning?  how 
long  have  I  slept?" 

From  the  hum  ia  the  house  and  on  the  street  she  judged  it 
was  evening,  and  the  growing  darkness  soon  convinced  her 
that  it  was.  Her  room,  and  the  only  room  in  the  house,  was 
not  furnished  with  gas;  there  was  no  candle  in  the  room, 
and  she  felt  it  not  advisable,  in  her  feverish  state,  to  leave 
her  bed  and  try  to  find  a  candle.  She  waited  ;  "  perhaps  her 
mistress  or  one  of  the  daughters  will  call  and  see  after  her 
condition ;  if  not,  Ellen  will  surely  come."  But  neither  of 
them  came.  Mrs.  Hunting  and  her  daughters  were  too 
busy  with  their  worldly  fashionable  affairs,  to  think  or  take 
the  time  to  look  after  their  poor  cook.  As  for  Ellen  she  had 
Patrick  on  the  brain,  he  took  up  all  her  attention ;  in  his 
presence  she  really  forgot  her  room-mate,  and  so  poor  Au- 
gustine remained  in  darkness,  on  her  couch,  uncared  for  and 
forgotten.  Slowly  passed  the  hours,  and  Augustine  felt  it 
keenly  that  none  of  the  ladies  in  the  house,  for  whom  she 
had  worked  so  faithfully,  done  always  her  best  to  please 
them,  and  added  as  much  as  was  in  her  power  to  their  comfort 
and  happiness,  and  now,  she  being  sick,  none  came  to  see 
whether  they  could  give  her  some  assistance  or  relief.  For 
the  first  time  she  felt  that  she  was  a  stranger  in  a  strange 
land,  and  alone.  No  mother  near  to  whom  she  could  confide 
her  hopes  and  her  fears,  her  joys  and  her  sorrows,  and  re- 
ceive that  motherly  caressing  and  a  mother's  consolation 
in  return;  no  father  near  who  would  shield  her  with  his  pro- 
tecting arm,  no  sister  and  no  brother  who  would  feel  for  her 
and  on  whom  she  could  rely  in  the  hour  of  need,  no  uncle  or 
aunt,  no  cousin  or  distant  relative,  that  would  take  a  heart- 
felt interest  in  her  welfare.  She  had  no  one  in  this  great 
country,  and  at  these  thoughts  she  wept  silently,  and 
moistened  the  pillow  with  her  tears.  "No,"  exclaimed  she, 
UI  must  not  give  way  to  grief  and  feel  myself  neglected,  I 
am  not  alone,  God  is  with  me,  He  is  my  Hock,  in  Him  I  put 
my  trust,  and  if  this  sickness  should  become  serious,  and  my 
mistress  and  her  daughters  should  still  neglect  me,  I  will 


A   TALE   OF    REAL   LIFE.  55 

apply  to  be  taken  to  the  hospital,  and  if  any  body  wrongs 
me  I  will  apply  for  protection  to  the  judiciary ;  blessed  be 
those  who  provide  hospitals  for  the  poor  stranger,  blessed  be 
the  American  Judiciary  whose  righteousness  is  world  re- 
nown." 

And  this  more  than  everything  else  induces  the  emigrants 
to  make  this  country  their  home.  If  our  Southern  States 
wish  to  enjoy  the  great  benefit  of  immigration,  they  must 
make  it  a  point  that  the  emigrants  are  hospitably  treated 
and  encouraged,  and  if  they  have  some  litigation,  that  strict 
justice,  tempered  with  mercy,  is  meted  out  to  them.  The 
author  mentions  this  as  a  sincere  friend  of  the  South,  and 
hopes  that  it  will  be  accepted  in  the  same  spirit  and  not 
misconstrued. 

Augustine  felt  greatly  relieved,  for  she  trusted  in  God  and 
knew  that  she  was  in  a  country  where  the  poor  and  disabled 
are  provided  for  and  protected  by  the  public  authorities. 
Her  lips  moved  in  prayer;  she  implored  that  the  Heavenly 
Father  might  soon  restore  her  to  health,  so  that  she  may 
continue  to  work  and  not  become  a  burden  to  public  expense. 

"  God,  thou  Father  of  mankind,  my  Rock  and  my  Hope,  be- 
stow on  me  that  earthly  bliss,  that  I  may  always  be  able  to 
support  m}Tself,  and  not  be  in  need  of  the  help  of  others ! 
Help  me,  thou  everlasting  Spirit,  that  I  may  be  able  to  help 
myself.  Amen !" 

Exhausted,  she  sank  on  her  pillow  and  slept  with  the  inno- 
cence of  an  infant,  a  sweet  smile  passing  over  her  comety 
features.  She  dreamed  of  her  childhood  :  of  the  grand  castle 
on  the  Vistula,  where  she  was  born,  of  her  tall  commanding 
father  with  his  royal  air,  of  her  angel-like  mother,  of  her 
young  clear-headed  brother,  of  the  many  servants  in  livery, 
of  the  elegant  carriages  and  splendid  horses,  of  the  costly 
furniture  and  of  the  respectful  attention  she  received  from 
all  near  her  parental  home;  of  the  stern  face  of  the 
gendarme  reading  the  warrant  of  arrest  to  her  father,  Count 
Ulrich  von  Mardeck ;  the  ejection  of  the  family  from  the 
castle ;  the  cold  treatment  of  former  friends  and  neigh- 


56  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

bors;  th«ir  arrival  in  Berlin,  assuming  her  mother's  name; 
their  pinching  poverty ;  her  emigration  to  America,  not  as 
Countess  of  Mardeck,  but  as  Augustine  Miiller ;  her  hopeless 
endeavor  to  get  a  situation  as  governess ;  her  resolve  to 
become  a  cook ;  her  correspondence  with  her  mother ;  her 
last  letter  just  received.  At  the  thought  of  that  letter,  she 
awoke,  and  beheld  Ellen  standing  before  her,  with  a  lighted 
candle  in  one  hand,  and  a  cup  of  tea  in  the  other. 

"You  must  have  been  dreaming  some  pleasant  and  some 
terrible  dreams,  for  you  seemed  to  smile  and  weep.  How- 
do  you  feel  ?  I  bring  you  a  cup  of  tea." 

"  I  feel  much  better,  I  thank  you.  Who  told  you  to  bring 
me  a  cup  of  tea  ?" 

"  The  mistress,"  answered  Ellen,  promptly. 

"  I  can  now  respect  her  again,"  said  Augustine  to  herself. 
"What  time  is  it,  Ellen?" 

"  The  clock  just  struck  half-past  twelve,  but  I  can  not  go 
to  bed  yet,  for  I  have  to  make  fire  in  the  furnace,  and  after 
that  I'll  drink  a  cup  of  tea  and  perhaps  fry  me  a  few  eggs. 
Augustine,  you  had  better  eat  a  few  fried  eggs ;  fried  eggs, 
turned  over  in  good  butter,  as  you  have  taught  me  to  fry 
them,  are  real  good.  Shall  I  fry  you  a  few  T'9 

"No,  Ellen,  don't  make  too  free  with  the  eggs.  Eggs  now 
cost  seventy-five  cents  a  dozen,"  said  Augustine,  in  a  warn- 
ing voice. 

"  And  who  cares  if  they  do  cost  that  much,  the  mistress  is 
rich  enough  to  buy  them,  and  I  am  healthy  enough  to  eat 
them ;  she  is  gone  to  bed  and  will  not  know  anything  about 
it,"  remarked  Ellen,  laughingly. 

"  It  is  wrong  to  be  wasteful  with  your  own  or  with  other 
people's  property.  Eggs  at  seventy-five  cents  a  dozen  should 
only  be  used  as  a  luxury  ;  if  you  are  hungry  eat  bread  and 
butter,  there  is  plenty  of  it  in  the  pantry." 

Ellen  looked  up  sharply  and  shook  her  head  with  a  mean- 
ing as  if  to  say,  "  to  be  so  careful  and  saving  may  do  in 
Germany,  but  here  in  America  it  is  not  necessary ;  here 
is  more  thrown  away  than  eat;  this  is  the  land  of  waste." 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  57 

And  she  was  not  much  out  of  the  way  in  that  view,  for  there 
is  unquestionably  great  wasting  in  the  kitchens,  great  wast- 
ing in  the  management  of  our  mercantile  and  manufacturing 
establishments,  extraordinary  wastefulness  in  our  public 
affairs,  but  the  greatest  wasting  of  all  is  in  the  cultivation 
of  our  lands,  which  are  allowed  to  run  down,  with  the  same 
recklessness  as  a  worthless  spendthrift  spends  the  inheritance 
of  his  ancestors  and  ends  his  old  days  in  the  poor-house  ;  may 
our  farmers  look  well  to  their  lands,  manure  them  richly, 
and  give  the  land  time  to  recover,  else  they  or  their  children 
will  feel  the  negligence. 

Ellen  handed  the  cup  of  tea  to  Augustine,  put  the  candle 
on  the  table  and  left  the  room,  closing  the  door  with  a  slam. 

Augustine  noticed  this  and  said,  "There  is  nothing  that 
people  dislike  so  much  as  telling  them  the  plain  truth 
squarely  in  the  face.  Has  she  a  right  to  fry  a  few  eggs  at 
this  hour  of  the  night?  And  a  few  eggs  with  her,  means  at 
least  half  a  dozen,  which  cost  now  thirty-seven  and  a  half 
cents ;  there  may  be  a  few  bad  ones  among  them,  which 
increases  the  price  of  the  good  ones.  I  do  not  like  to  see 
people  unreasonable,  be  they  rich  or  poor,  employer  or  em- 
ployee." She  drank  her  tea  with  great  relish,  and  joyfully 
exclaimed:  "Thanks  to  Thee,  Thou  Builder  of  all  the 
worlds,  that  I  feel  better.  As  soon  as  Ellen  comes  up,  I  will 
go  to  the  kitchen  and  prepare  a  good  breakfast  for  the 
family.  I  presume  they  had  yesterday  a  poor  dinner  and  a 
poor  supper,  for  nobody  in  the  house  is  able  to  cook  a  meal. 
The  men  are  to  be  pitied  who  will  get  those  young  ladies 
for  their  wives.  How  helpless  they  will  be  in  household 
matters,  and  although  they  occupy  a  high  position  in  society 
compared  with  my  present  condition,  I  would  not  change  with 
them,  for  I  am  brought  up  to  put  my  trust  in  God  and  not  in 
vanity.  I  can  rely  upon  my  own  strength  and  exertions 
and  feel  not  ashamed  to  make  a  living  by  it.  The  science  of 
cooking  well  and  economically,  is  an  art,  though  so  much 
despised  and  neglected  by  women.  It  is  their  greatest 
stronghold ;  it  is  the  power  behind  the  throne.  Th«  wife 


58  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

that  knows  how  to  cook  well  and  economically,  has  a 
stronghold  on  the  affections  of  her  husband :  he  feels  and 
gladly  acknowledges  that  he  has  in  her  a  real  helpmate,  who 
husbands  his  earnings  to  the  greatest  advantage.  Well-pre- 
pared food  gives  him  health  and  strength.  Mutual  love 
makes  of  that  husband  a  giant ;  he  goes  forth  in  the  world 
a  host  in  himself,  and  returns  victorious  in  whatever  he 
undertakes.  The  wife  shares  with  him  his  earnings  and  his 
glory  in  peace,  and  so  should  it  be  in  every  household  in  this 
wide  universe."  She  jumped  from  her  bed,  quickly  put  on 
her  underclothing,  took  her  scissors,  and  broke  the  ice  in  her 
water-pitcher  to  wash  her  hands  and  face;  she  combed  her  hair 
and  put  it  up  in  two  long  braids,  which  she  pinned  cross- 
ways.  That  done,  she  put  on  her  dress  and  apron  and  went 
to  the  kitchen,  where  she  found  Ellen  busy,  frying  eggs. 

Ellen  was  quite  surprised  to  see  Augustine,  and  exclaimed  : 
"  Don't  lecture  me;  you  see  I  only  fried  three  eggs  instead 
of  six,  as  I  first  intended." 

"  But  there  are  the  shells  of  more  than  three  eggs,"  re- 
marked Augustine. 

"  So  there  are.  I  eat  six  fried  eggs  when  I  came  home 
this  evening,"  answered  Ellen,  somewhat  confused. 

"And  what  time  was  it  when  you  came  home,"  asked 
Augustine,  smiling. 

"  It  was  about  twelve,"  said  Ellen. 

"  And  now  it  is  about  one,  so  you  eat  nine  eggs  before 
going  to  bed.  Ellen,  I  said  yesterday  when  we  cleaned  the 
parlor  that  your  digesting  powers  are  good,  and  if  you  will 
feel  well  to-morrow  morning,  I  will  confess  that  your  digest- 
ing powers  are  the  best  in  all  America." 

Ellen  took  this  remark  as  a  very  great  compliment,  and 
said  :  "  Now  I  will  go  to  bed.  Good  night,  or  good  morning, 
which,  Augustine." 

"  With  you  it  is  good  night,  with  me  it  is  good  morning." 
Being  alone,  Augustine  Miiller,  born  Countess  von  Mardeck, 
took  the  letter  which  she  had  received  the  previous  morning 
and  read : 


A    TALE    OF    REAL    LIFE.  59 

"Mv  DEAR  BELOVED  DAUGHTER: 

"  Since  my  last  letter  to  you,  our  prospects  have  greatly 
improved  ;  the  long  delayed  and  continually  postponed  trial 
of  your  noble  father  has  at  last  taken  place  before  the  highest 
tribunal  of  the  land,  charges  being  made  as  a  positive 
fact  that  the  Count  Ulrich  von  Mardeck  had  been  conspiring 
against  the  government  of  his  country,  and  that  the  confis- 
cation of  his  estate  and  the  merciless  expulsion  of  his  family 
was  just.  To  listen  to  the  prosecuting  lawyers,  the  case  of 
my  noble  husband  looked  desperate  and  gloomy,  but  when 
my  kind-hearted  able  brother  Joseph,  who  has  given  this 
case  years  of  careful  investigation  and  study,  commenced 
his  argument  of  defense,  he  refuted  the  charges  as  utterly 
false.  He  clearly  showed  to  the  court  that  the  Count 
Ulrich  von  Mardeck  was  and  is  not  guilty  of  the  charges  so 
skillfully  set  forth  ;  he  convinced  the  court  beyond  a  shadow 
of  a  doubt  that  the  relatives  of  the  noble  Count  were  at  the 
bottom  of  the  charge  of  this  great  crime,  in  order  that  he 
should  loose  his  estate,  and  his  wife  and  children  become 
homeless  ;  they  have  done  it  in  order  to  avenge  themselves 
on  him  because  he  has  married  me,  Paulina  Miiller,  a  ple- 
beian, upon  which  they  looked  as  a  great  disgrace  to  their 
house  and  family.  For  nine  successive  hours  did  the  great  ad- 
vocate speak,  and  with  such  fervent  eloquence,  that  the  spec- 
tators and  even  the  judges  wept  in  sympathy  for  the  Count 
Ulrich  von  Mardeck  and  his  unfortunate  family.  His 
descriptions  of  the  sufferings  of  the  Count  in  prison,  where 
darkness  and  dampness  deprived  him  of  his  eyesight  and 
crippled  him  with  rheumatism.  How  blind  and  crippled  he 
was  discharged  from  the  prison  on  bail,  how  he  was  waited 
on  and  supported  by  his  feeble  wife,  who  earned  her  living 
with  the  needle — the  daughter  in  a  far-off  land  earning  her 
living  as  a  cook — and  the  only  son  a  homeless  wanderer  on 
the  earth. 

"  The  court  can  not  restore  the  sight  and  health  to  the 
father,  but  the  court  can  and  will,  in  the  name  of  justice 
restore  to  the  father  his  good  name  untarnished,  so  that  his 


60  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

children  should  not  have  reason  to  be  ashamed  of  their  noble 
parent. 

"Hardly  had  your  learned  uncle  finished  his  masterly 
argument  when  the  judges  declared,  unanimously,  that  the 
Count  Ulrich  von  Mardeck  is  not  guilty,  that  he  is  restored 
to  all  his  titles,  rights,  and  his  estate,  but  that  this  decree 
has  to  be  fully  approved  by  His  Eoyal  Highness,  the  King. 

"Your  father  has  not  been  informed  of  the  decision  of  the 
court,  as  my  dear  brother  thinks  he  had  better  be  gradually 
prepared  for  it,  else  the  good  news  may  prove  a  sad  shock  to 
his  feeble  health. 

"  Good  as  this  news  is,  I  have  still  better  news  to  write 
you.  Our  dear  Karl,  who  has  joined  the  Prussian  navy,  has 
rapidly  advanced,  and  is  now  the  commander  of  the  man-of- 
war  King  William  I.;  but  as  his  letter  is  very  lengthy,  and 
of  great  interest,  I  inclose  it  with  mine.  Hold  yourself  in 
readiness  to  start  at  a  moment's  notice  to  your  native  home, 
to  your  loving  mother's  arms,  who  longs  to  embrace  and 
kiss  her  darling  daughter.  Be  calm,  and  keep  in  good 
health.  I  would  write  more,  but  my  emotions  overpower 
me.  My  eyes  are  filling  with  tears.  Be  careful,  be  hopeful, 
and  trust  in  God.  This  the  sincere  wish  of  your 

"Most  affectionate,  loving  mother, 

"PAULINA  MULLER. 

"P.  S.  Your  father  is  asleep  while  I  pen  this  letter,  and, 
in  his  dreams,  calls  your  name." 

"But  will  the  King  sanction  the  decision  of  the  supreme 
court?"  asked  Augustine  herself.  "  'Don't  put  your  trust  in 
kings,'  is  the  old  adage,  and  it  may  hold  good  in  this  case. 
Let  me  not  be  too  hopeful,  but  Karl's  letter  shows  substan- 
tial success.  Let  me  also  read  that  letter  once  more  care- 
fully." She  read: 

"  On  Board  of  the  man-of-war  King  William  I. 
"  MY  DEAR  PARENTS  : 

"When  I  bade  you  goodbye,  I  told  you  that  you  would 
not  hear  from  me  until  I  had  well  succeeded  in  life.  More 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  61 

than  a  thousand  times  did  I  regret  of  having  made  this 
resolution,  for  it  deprived  me  of  the  great  pleasure  to  hear 
from  you,  and  especially  from  my  dear  sister  Augustine,  but 
to  be  a  man  worthy  of  the  exalted  name,  I  had  to  keep  my 
resolution,  if  once  taken. 

"1  redoubled  my  exertions  in  the  Prussian  naval  service, 
advanced  very  rapidly,  and  am  now  the  commander  of  this 
man-of-war.  I  owe  this  great  success  not  only  to  my  perse- 
verance, but  mainly  to  the  classical  education  which  I  ob- 
tained through  the  pecuniary  assistance  of  my  noble  sister 
Augustine.  But  I  shall  feel  humiliated  as  long  as  I  have  not 
richly  repaid  her  offerings  and  savings  in  my  behalf.  It  was 
a  great  sacrifice  for  her  to  go  to  a  foreign  country,  to  leave 
father  and  mother,  to  work  as  a  cook  and  send  home  her 
earnings  to  pay  my  schooling.  If  I  had  known  this  I  would 
have  preferred  rather  to  be  a  wood-chopper  and  a  water- 
carrier  than  to  have  my  education  paid  for  with  the  hard 
earned  money  of  my  poor  sister  Augustine. 

"  I  expect  an  order  to  visit  the  American  waters  before 
sailing  home,  and,  if  so,  I  will  bring  dear  Augustine  home  to 
her  native  land  in  my  own  vessel. 

"My  crui sings  have  mostly  been  without  much  personal 
danger,  except  a  week  ago,  when  an  unexpected  storm  sud- 
denly set  upon  us.  Nothing  but  the  skillful  management  of 
our  strong  and  noble  vessel  saved  us  from  a  watery  grave. 
I  felt  that  many  a  stout  vessel  and  crew  must  have  perished 
in  that  dark  and  gloomy  night,  and  the  next  morning  I  kept 
a  sharp  lookout  for  any  signs  of  wrecked  vessels.  Suddenly 
I  espied  a  dark  object,  tossed  hither  and  thither  by  the  still 
high-going  sea.  I  directed  my  vessel  toward  it,  and  saw  a 
man  faintly  clinging  to  a  spar.  He  was  utterly  exhausted. 
I  gave  order  to  lower  a  boat,  but  before  this  could  be  done  a 
high  wave  swamped  the  man,  who.  letting  go  his  hold,  dis- 
appeared in  the  dark  waters. 

" '  None  shall  perish  when  Augustine's  brother  is  near,' 
and  with  these  words  and  her  name  on  my  lips  I  leaped  from 
my  vessel  to  save  the  drowning  man.  As  he  arose  again  I 


62  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

grasped  him,  and  kept  him  above  the  water  until  the  boat 
was  lowered,  and  reaching  us,  took  us,  though  utterly  ex- 
hausted, safely  to  the  vessel.  The  man  had  fainted.  After 
applying  some  restoratives,  animation  returned.  He 
opened  his  eyes,  and  looking  wildly  around,  as  if  to  say, 
'Where  am  I?'  he  fainted  again.  He  now  lies  prostrated 
with  brain  fever  in  my  cabin.  All  attention  and  care  ia 
shown  to  him,  and  there  is  some  hope  of  his  recovery.  To 
judge  from  his  appearance  and  some  papers,  I  think  him  to 

be  an  American.     His  name  is  Augustus ,  as  we  found  a 

letter  addressed  to  him  under  that  name — the  latter  part 
being  blotted  out. 

"  I  inclose  also  an  order  on  the  Admiralty  for  three  hun- 
dred thalers,  which  I  hope  my  parents  will  accept  as  a  token 
of  my  love  and  great  esteem.  Acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
this  letter  at  once,  and  give  me  full  particulars  of  your  health 
and  welfare,  and  also  send  me  all  the  letters  you  have  re- 
ceived from  my  darling  sister  Augustine,  with  her  full  ad- 
dress. Direct  your  letters,  Karl  Mtiller,  Commander  of  the 
man-of-war  King  William  I.,  and  hand  them  to  the  Admir- 
alty, which  will  be  forwarded  to  me  with  the  official  com- 
munications. 

"Hoping  that  this  will  find  you  all  in  good  health,  and 
that  you  will  remember  me  in  kindness,  I  am 

"Your  loving  son, 

"  KARL  MULLER. 

"  P.  S.  Please  do  not  omit  to  write  immediately,  and  also 
to  send  me  all  the  letters  of  dear  Augustine,  with  her  ad- 
dress, to  whom  I  send  my  love." 

"Karl's  letter  is  glorious;  it  is  just  like  him  to  risk  his  life 
to  save  another's.  I  am  glad  that  he  at  last  appreciates  what 
I  have  done  for  him;  but  who  can  that  Augustus  be?  The 
oldest  son  of  this  house  is  called  Augustus;  he  is  a  captain 
and  now  with  his  vessel  in  the  East  Indian  waters.  Would 
it  not  be  strange  if  that  Augustus  is  the  son  of  Mrs.  Hunting? 
Let  me  await  events,  and  do  as  my  dear  mother  directs  :  to  be 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  63 

calm,  cheerful,  and  to  trust  in  God.  And  now  I'll  go  to  work 
as  usual." 

She  hid  these  precions  letters  in  her  bosom,  near  her  heart. 

While  being  occupied  with  her  work  in  the  kitchen,  she 
muttered  to  herself: 

"  To-day  is  New-Year's  day,  and  the  family  ought  to  have 
something  better  than  usual  for  breakfast.  Let  me  see  what 
to  prepare.  I  guess  I  will  make  one  gold  and  one  silver 
cake ;  it  takes  only  twelve  eggs  for  both  ;  then  I'll  take  six 
eggs  and  make  some  nice  omelets,  filled  with  jelly.  Also 
have  some  butter  biscuit,  light  and  tender,  and  a  small  roast 
of  veal ;  good  coifee  with  hot  cream." 

Many  a  bachelor  who  rests  not  on  a  bed  of  roses,  and 
passes  his  life  lonely  and  gloomily,  would  have  taken  courage 
to  propose,  if  they  would  have  seen  that  beautiful  girl  in  her 
plain  and  simple  attire,  lightly  and  gracefully  making  the 
cakes,  the  omelets,  the  biscuit  and  the  roast.  All  was  look- 
ing so  inviting,  and  especially  to  have  it  served  by  such 
hands.  There  is  something  fascinating  to  behold  a  neat,  tidy 
maiden  working  skillfully  and  without  much  ado  in  the 
kitchen,  preparing  the  meal  for  the  family. 

The  morning  bells  rang  clearly,  and  many  a  fire-cracker 
could  be  heard  on  the  street,  fired  by  the  boys  in  honor  of 
New-Year's  day.  Misses  Agnes,  Myra,  and  Blanche  were  the 
first  to  arise.  The  well-heated  rooms  were  evidence  that 
Ellen  had  returned,  but  what  especially  hightened  the  glee 
of  the  young  ladies  was  the  sweet  and  scented  odor  which 
came  from  the  kitchen. 

"  Good !"  they  exclaimed,  "the  cook  is  well  and  is  cooking 
something  nice  for  breakfast ;  what  a  comfort  it  is  to  have  a 
good  cook  in  the  house." 

"It  is  even  more  than  a  comfort,"  remarked  Myra. 

Agnes  smiled,  and  said  : 

"  Myra  thinks  of  the  substantials." 

"  You  ma}'  well  call  good  prepared  food  the  substantials  of 
life,  for  they  promote  health  and  make  one  feel  good  natured, 
besides  increasing  our  physical  and  mental  powers." 


64  OUR    PROSPECTS. 

"  Myra,  be  careful,  or  I  shall  call  you  an  epicure,"  remarked 
Agnes,  in  a  sneering  tone. 

"I  am  no  epicure,  but  I  claim  that  good  eating  is  essential 
to  good  health  and  success  in  life.  Did  not  Napoleon  the 
Great  say  that  he  lost  the  battle  because  the  dinner  did  not 
agree  with  him  ?  If  a  simple  dinner  had  such  an  effect  on 
that  great  man,  how  much  more  must  it  affect  a  man  of  less 
intellectual  power  and  greatness?" 

"  I  have  not  given  this  matter  much  attention,"  interrupted 
Blanche,  "  still  I  agree  with  Myra,  that  if  one  eats  good,  one 
feels  good.  Since  yesterday  morning,  I  have  not  had  one 
thing  well  prepared  to  eat,  and  I  can  say  that  I  don't  feel 
near  as  well  as  usual ;  so  hurry,  please,  that  we  get  done  and 
go  to  breakfast." 

The  sisters  finished  their  toilets,  and  met  their  parents  in 
the  sitting-room,  reading  the  morning  news.  They  ex- 
changed the  morning  salutations,  and  repaired  to  the  dining- 
room.  The  table  with  its  snowy  white  linen,  each  tumbler 
adorned  with  a  fringed  napkin,  the  polished  forks  and  knives 
with  the  silver  handles,  and  silver  spoons  tastefully  arranged, 
would  have  caused  to  smile  even  the  most  ill-natured,  while 
on  each  end  of  the  table  stood  a  silver  and  gold  cake,  with 
the  inscription,  on  the  first : 

A  HAPPY  NEW  YEAR! 
And  on  the  gold  cake : 

AND  A  GREAT  MANY  OF  THEM! 

A  bouquet  of  natural  flowers  stood  in  the  center  of  the  table 
hightening  the  truly  beautiful  sight. 

"Augustine  is  quite  an  artist;  none  but  those  who  pos- 
sess great  natural  taste,  could  set  a  table  so  handsomely," 
exclaimed  Agnes,  enthusiastically. 

Mr.  Hunting  started,  and  said  to  himself: 

"Those  cakes  are  very  beautiful,  and  the  mottoes  very  ap- 
propriate, but  they  are  not  worth  fifty  dollars." 

The  roast  of  veal,  the  omelets  filled  with  jelly  rolled  and 


A   TALE    OF    REAL   LIFE.  65 

powdered  with  sugar,  were  served  hot ;  also,  coffee  and  cream 
and  biscuit. 

"  What  a  real  nice  breakfast  this  is,"  remarked  Blanche ; 
everything  tastes  so  well. 

"  Yes,"  observed  Mr.  Hunting,  "that  girl  cooks  well." 

"  Papa,  please  hand  me  another  piece  of  that  silver  and 
gold  cake?"  asked  Myra,  the  youngest  of  his  daughters. 

The  father  served  her  as  requested. 

"Thank  you,  pa;  why  are  those  cakes  called  silver  and 
gold  cakes?"  asked  Myra. 

"Because  one  is  white  and  the  other  is  yellow,"  answered 
the  father. 

"And  how  are  they  made?"  questioned  Myra. 

"That  is  more  than  I  can  tell." 

"Mamma,  how  are  those  cakes  made?" 

"Daughters,  you  had  better  think  of  your  music,  French, 
Latin  and  drawing  lessons,  than  how  silver  and  gold  cakes 
are  made ;  you  never  will  be  called  upon  to  make  a  cake, 
but  you  maybe  requested  to  play  a  piece  and  come  in  fashion- 
able society,  where  French  and  Latin  is  spoken,  and  I  wish 
that  you  shall  know  it  well,"  answered  the  mother,  in  a  dis- 
approving tone  and  look. 

"I  do  not  see  any  harm  in  it,  if  you  will  explain  to  our 
daughters  how  a  silver  and  gold  cake  is  prepared,"  ventured 
Mr.  Hunting  to  his  wife. 

"/do  see  harm  in  it;  if  I  explained  it  to  them,  the  next 
will  be  that  they  want  to  make  them,  and  then  there  will  be 
no  end  to  it;  my  daughters  have  no  business  to  cook.  I 
told  you  yesterday  that  those  old  fashionable  times  are  gone 
by  when  ladies  worked  things  in  the  kitchen;  they  have 
in  these  days  something  else  to  do,"  answered  Mrs.  Hunting, 
somewhat  sharply. 

"  And  may  I  ask  what  that  something  else  is?"  questioned 
the  husband,  sarcastically. 

"To  elevate  ourselves  and  through  that  elevation  elevate 
humanity,"  answered  the  wife,  very  condescendingly. 

"That  is  a  noble  aim,  but  I  fear  that  you  will  not  succeed, 


66  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

or  make  only  slow  progress  at  best,  as  long  as  you  step  from 
your  proper  sphere,  that  of  making  home  a  paradise,  and  no 
home  can  be  a  happy  one,  where  women  are  ignorant  or  un- 
willing to  do  housework,"  answered  the  husband,  earnestly. 

"Indeed,  Mr.  Hunting,  you  are  placing  a  very  great  value 
on  housework ;  you  seem  to  consider  it  the  very  keys  of 
"heaven,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Hunting. 

"Not  the  keys  of  heaven,  but  the  keys  to  human  welfare 
on  earth.  Eecollect,  last  night,  our  cheerless  and  cold  house, 
and  poor  supper,  and  compare  it  with  our  comfort  this  morn- 
ing, our  good  breakfast  prepared  by  the  hands  of  our  hired 
girl.  Now  suppose  we  were  not  able  to  hire,  or  we  could 
not  get  them,  or  they  would  have  been  unwell  to  work,  we 
would  have  had  again  a  cheerless  house,  no  breakfast  fit- to 
eat ;  some  one  of  the  family  would  have  taken  sick,  or  if  not 
sick,  be  in  ill  humor,  and  the  sick  and  ill-humored  are  the  last 
persons  to  elevate  themselves  and  through  their  elevation 
elevate  others.  To  be  able  to  elevate  ourselves,  we  must  be 
well  and  industrious,  not  too  proud  to  work,  be  that  work 
whatever  it  may  be,  as  long  as  it  is  an  honest  pursuit ;  not 
to  be  vain,  and  to  give  more  attention  to  what  we  get  in  our 
heads  than  on  our  heads." 

"  Please,  husband,"  interrupted'  the  wife,  "let  me  eat  my 
breakfast  in  peace,  and  do  not  philosophize  so  much,  every 
thing  will  adjust  itself  in  the  course  of  time." 

"So  it  will;  if  civilization  can  not  accomplish  it,  there  is 
the  higher  law,  early  graves  and  many  of  them,  and  if  that  is 
not  sufficient  to  weed  out  the  worthless  quickly  enough,  then 
there  will  be  another  overflow  and  inundation,  and  the  world 
will  again  become  peopled  with  a  new  race  that  will  not  be 
so  fashionable  to  abuse  the  laws  of  nature,  and  become  a 
burden  instead  of  joy  to  each  other.  Looking  continually 
for  their  rights,  always  talking  about  the  future  and  neglect- 
ing the  present,  that  is  the  style  now  in  vogue." 

The' ladies  made  no  remarks,  and  thought  the  head  of  the 
family  was  laboring  under  mental  excitement.  They  finished 
the  breakfast  in  silence.  '  The  young  ladies  were  the  first  to 


A  TALE   OF    REAL    LIFE.  67 

leave  the  table,  they  went  to  their  room  to  commence  their 
reception  toilet.  The  head  ornamentation,  of  course, 
was  first  begun  with.  We  doubt  whether  the  architect  of 
Notre  Dame,  at  Strasbourg,  has  given  more  thoughts  to  the 
grand  steeple  of  that  celebrated  church  than  our  young  ladies 
did  when  they  arranged  their  waterfalls  on  this  grand 
occasion;  suffice  it  to  say,  the  waterfall  was  high,  so  high 
that  a  five-inch  hair-pin  was  not  long  enough  to  pin  it  on 
the  side  to  the  natural  hair.  Nothing  shorter  than  a  six  or 
seven -inch  hair-pin  would  answer  to  keep  the  substantial 
waterfall  in  its  place,  but  such  hair-pins  were  not  at  hand. 
Ellen  must  go  and  get  some.  But  poor  Ellen  was  sick ;  nine 
eggs  fried  and  turned  over,  eaten  at  midnight,  before  going 
to  bed,  was  more  than  even  Ellen  could  stand.  It  was  out  of 
question  to  leave  the  bed,  and  it  was  not  advisable  to  send 
Augustine,  for  good  cooks  are  scarce,  and  the  grocer  might 
know  of  a  place  where  they  want  a  good  cook  and  where 
better  wages  would  be  paid ;  it  would  be  risky  (what  a  pun- 
ishment to  live  under  such  apprehensions).  The  coachman 
was  therefore  pressed  into  service,  to  "  go  and  buy  at  the 
nearest  grocer's  three  cards  of  six  or  seven-inch  hair-pins, 
and  if  he  could  not  get  them  at  the  grocer's,  he  surely  would 
find  them  at  the  notion  stores." 

Tom  made  a  sour  face  to  go  and  buy  hair-pins,  "  he  was  not 
hired  for  that ;  still  he  had  no  objection  to  go,  and  accom- 
modate the  young  ladies,  but  if  he  can  not  get  them  at  the 
grocer's  he  don't  know  what  a  notion  store  is." 

The  young  ladies  explained  to  him  what  a  notion  store 
meant.  It  is  a  store  that  keeps  small  ware  of  great  utility  ; 
no  place  could  well  get  along  without  a  notion  store ;  but 
somehow  Tom  could  not  comprehend  it,  and  had  his  doubts 
whether  he  could  find  such  a  store,  and  such  long  hair-pins. 

"You  are  not  such  a  block-head,  Tom,"  said  Augustine, 
good  naturedly.  "Here  is  one  dollar,  those  pins  will  cost  a 
quarter ;  the  rest  you  keep,  and  treat  yourself  to  anything 
you  please." 

Tom's  face  brightened,  as  if  by  magic.     "Yes,  madam,  I 


68  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

know  now  what  a  notion  store  is ;  it  is  a  thread  and  needle 
store,"  exclaimed  he,  in  a  glee.  "I  know  where  there  is 
one."  Off  he  went,  and  returned  quickly  with  six  and  seven 
inch  hair-pins. 

The  waterfalls  were  built  according  to  the  latest  fashion, 
and  being  well  pinned  no  accident  was  apprehended. 

If  there  is  any  fashion  that  deserves  to  be  stamped  as 
abominable  it  is  those  waterfalls ;  for  to  wear  such  a  weight 
of  questionable  stuff  on  the  head  must  cause  headache,  and 
brain  disease;  and  as  a  natural  consequence  prevent  the 
growth  of  hair.  If  this  abominable  fashion  will  long  con- 
tinue the  prospects  are  that  the  fair  sex  will  become  bald- 
headed. 

After  their  heads  were  duly  ornamented,  then  came  the 
task  of  lacing  the  corset,  another  article  of  fashion  that  can 
be  called  the  faithful  ally  of  the  destroying  Angel,  which 
undermines  the  health  of  the  ladies.  We  will  pause  here  to 
say  nothing  about  tight,  pinching  shoes,  and  the  firm  press- 
ing garter,  that  obstruct  the  circulation  of  the  blood ;  and 
direct  now  our  attention  to  Mr.  Edward  Hunting. 


CHAPTER  V. 

"  Awful  it  is  to  wake  in  sorrow, 

Awful  it  is  to  have  no  money 
To  meet  a  note  due  to-morrow." 

THESE  lines  give  a  faint  idea  of  the  feelings  of  Mr.  Hunt- 
ing. He  awoke  in  sorrow,  and  felt  gloomy  and  unhappy,  on 
account  of  his  largely  overdrawn  bank  account.  The  fear 
that  his  draft  might  be  returned  hovered  around  his  mind 
just  as  the  fear  of  the  miser,  that  some  one  will  rob  him  of 
his  possessions;  there  was  only  one  ray  of  hope  to  get  money 
on  New  Year's  day,  and  that  was  by  the  mail,  from  his 
customers  that  owed  him.  He  went  to  the  post-office,  and 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  69 

met  his  faithful  bookkeeper,  Frank  Wilkins,  who  was  there 
for  the  same  purpose  ;  his  only  hope  depending  on  this  morn- 
ing mail. 

"  Good  morning  Mr.  Hunting,  I  wish  you  a  happy  New 
Year." 

"  Thank  you,  Frank  ;  thank  you,  I  wish  you  the  same.  Is 
there  a  large  mail  for  us  this  morning?"  inquired  Mr.  Hunt- 
ing, anxiously. 

"  Yes,  there  is,  but  the  letters  look  as  if  they  contained  no 
drafts,"  answered  Wilkins,  promptly. 

"  Come  with  me  to  the  counting  room,  we  will  open  the 
letters  there  and  see,"  said  Mr.  Hunting. 

They  reached  the  office,  and  opened  the  first  letter,  which 
read: 

"MESSRS.  EDWARD  HUNTING  &  Co.: 

"  Gentlemen — Your  statement  is  at  hand,  and  found  cor- 
rect. We  admit  that  it  is  sixty  days  over  due,  and  are 
really  sorry  that  we  can  not  remit  you  your  just  claim,  but 
the  facts  are  that  all  our  customers,  mostly  rich  farmers,  who 
owe  us  for  months,  don't  pay  us,  because  they  hold  their  pro- 
duce until  they  can  get  better  prices,  and  as  the  market  is 
dropping  they  may  not  sell  for  some  time.  As  soon  as  we 
collect  we  will  remit  you  at  once. 

"  With  the  compliments  of  the  season  we  are,  gentlemen, 
"  Yours  truly 

"  SLIWOWITZ  &  Co." 

"What!"  exclaimed  Mr.  Hunting;  "  Sliwowitz  &  Co. 
wrote  that  letter  ?  they  are  among  my  oldest  and  most  re- 
liable customers.  It  is  strange  that  Sliwowitz  &  Co.  should 
send  us  such  a  letter,  when  we  send  them  a  statement  with 
the  request  to  remit." 

The  bookkeeper  read  the  letter  again,  and  said  : 
"  They  seem  anxious  to  pay,  but  have  not  the  money  ;  this 
is  owing,  exclusively,  to  the  present  evil  that  our  farmers, 
nowadays,  are  not  contented  to  be  producers  but  want  also 


70  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

to  be  speculators  ;  and  as  trading  is  overdone,  since  every 
village  and  cross-road  has  two  stores  more  than  can  well  be 
supported,  the  farmer  is  independent  of  the  store.  If  one 
will  not  trust  him  for  all  he  wants,  and  wait  for  pay  until  it 
suits  his  convenience,  the  farmer  not  only  does  not  pay  his 
bills  when  due,  but  he  buys  from  some  other  store,  where 
for  competition's  sake  all  possible  credit  is  given  to  him. 
Sliwowitz  &  Co.  know  this,  hence  they  are  lenient  with  and 
humor  those  rich  farmers,  and  are  thus  not  able  to  meet  their 
obligations." 

"You  are  correct  in  your  views,  "Wilkins;  that  is  the  way 
it  works,  and  yet  that  same  farmer  claims  to  be  a  religious 
man,  prays  devotedly  that  the  infidel  should  be  saved,  while 
he  himself  commits  a  willful  sin  against  his  neighbor,  by 
keeping  means  in  his  possession  which  do  not  belong  to  him, 
but  to  a  fellow-man,  to  whom  such  means  is  his  all,  his  capi- 
tal, his  credit,  his  good  name,  the  very  tools  with  which  he 
supports  his  family.  Verily  there  is  a  great  wrong  in  it,  if 
parties  that  can  pay  their  indebtedness  promptly,  do  not  do 
so.  Please,  Wilkins,  proceed  with  reading  the  other  letters." 

The  book-keeper  opened  another  letter  and  read  : 

"  MESSRS.  EDWARD  HUNTING  &  Co. — Gentlemen  : 

"  Your  statement  is  received.  What  is  the  use  to  send  me  a 
statement  ?  Don't  I  know  that  I  owe  you  and  it  should  have 
been  paid  long  ago?  I  think  of  my  indebtedness  to  you, 
wherever  I  go.  Says  I,  Hunting  &  Co.  should  have  been  paid 
by  this  time.  Therefore,  what  is  the  use  to  send  me  a  state- 
ment when  I  am  thinking  of  it  all  the  time.  I  am  good  for 
it,  for  every  dollar  that  I  owe.  I  have  five  thousand  dollars 
out,  by  good  farmers,  but  they  will  not  sell  their  corn  and 
other  stuff,  and  I  have  to  wait  for  them.  You  shall  have 
your  money  as  soon  as  I  will  get  it.  Do  not  be  uneasy,  and 
do  not  send  me  a  statement. 

"Your  honest  debtor,  IRA  T.  SIDER. 

"N.  B. — Have  a  good  stock  for  the  coming  spring  and  I 
will  buy  a  large  bill  of  you,  because  you  have  indulged  me." 


A   TALE    OF    REAL    LIFE.  71 

"  That  nota  bene  gives  the  key  to  that  man's  affairs.  I 
guess  he  indulges  the  farmers  too  much,  that  they  should  be 
under  obligation  to  buy  of  him,  and  being  a  good  natured 
man,  they  take  unusual  advantage.  See,  please,  how  old  his 
account  is,"  said  Mr.  Hunting. 

Wilkins  quickly  opened  the  safe,  took  the  index  and  led- 
ger, and  referred  to  page  of  Ira  T.  Sider,  saying :  "  Sider 
is  getting  very  sour,  that  account  runs  since  last  March.,  and 
there  is  yet  a  small  balance  unpaid  since  January,  about  a 
year  ago." 

"Please,  make  a  note  with  pen  and  ink  on  his  page,  that 
this  account  is  to  be  gradually  closed,  inform  so  the  salesman 
who  generally  fills  his  orders  or  waits  on  him." 

The  book-keeper  took  the  pen  and  was  about  making  the 
memorandum,  when  he  hesitated  and  remarked  :  "  Mr.  Hunt- 
ing, would  it  not  be  better  not  to  make  such  a  memorandum 
on  the  page,  since  your  instructions  are  that  if  any  one  of 
our  competitors  come  to  inquire  about  the  standing  of  one  of 
our  customers,  to  say  nothing  for  or  against  them,  but 
merely  to  open  the  ledger,  and  to  let  them  form  their  own 
conclusions  from  the  records  of  the  account?" 

"•  You  are  right ;  that  memorandum  would  attract  atten- 
tion, but  I  can  not  help  it.  I  do  not  want  that  any  one 
should  be  deceived.  I  can  not  recommend  any  as  entitled  to 
credit  whom  I  do  not  want  to  give  credit  myself." 

There  was  nothing  more  said.  The  memorandum  was 
made  as  directed.  The  credit  of  Ira  T.  Sider  was  annulled, 
and  a  merchant  without  credit  is  like  the  earth  without  the 
sun  ;  everything  withers,  and  gloom  prevails  there. 

The  rest  of  the  letters  were  opened,  but  they  contained  no 
drafts — only  promises  to  remit  soon. 

Both  employer  and  employee  were  silent.  Both  were 
busy  thinking  where  to  get  the  money  to  cover  the  draft 
which  was  issued  to  take  up  the  note.  Wilkin's  eyes  filled 
with  tears,  and  despair  spread  over  the  face  of  the  unhappy 
merchant.  He  arose  from  his  chair,  walked  rapidly  up  and 


72  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

down,  buttoned  up  his  overcoat,  and  left  his  place  of  busi- 
ness without  saying  a  word. 

The  faithful  bookkeeper  watched  his  movements,  and 
looked  anxiously.  He  then  prayed,  "  Thou  Infinite  Being,  be 
with  him  in  this  great  hour  of  trial,  and  save  him  from  dis- 
grace and  destruction  !  But  where  is  he  going?  what  will  he 
do  in  such  a  state  of  mind?  perhaps  he  is  on  his  way  to  take 
some  stimulants;  let  me  follow  him,  for  if  he  breaks  his 
resolution  of  yesterday  he  will  surely  become  a  drunkard." 

He  quickly  closed  the  safe  and  the  counting-room,  and 
followed,  at  a  respectful  distance,  his  despairing  employer, 
who,  when  passing  the  St.  Charles,  stopped  and  hesitated,  as 
if  to  enter  the  bar-room,  but  he  changed  his  purpose  and 
passed  on.  He  reached  the  St.  James,  and  went  on.  He 
reached  the  St.  Nicholas,  and  still  went  on  his  way.  He 
reached  the  St.  George,  and  did  not  stop  at  either  of  those 
gilded  saints,  to  worship  them.  Wilkins  felt  a  great  relief, 
but  there  were  two  more  saloons  to  pass  on  his  way  home 
the  "Senate"  and  "Do  you  Smile?"  where  they  retailed 
American  brandies,  good  and  indifferent,  out  of  genuine 
French  bottles,  but  Mr.  Hunting  did  not  stop  at  the  "Senate" 
nor  at  the  place  with  the  sign  "Do  you  Smile  ?"  He  went 
straight  to  his  home,  with  a  fixed  purpose  on  his  mind. 

Entering  his  bed-room,  which  was  on  the  second  floor 
facing  the  street,  he  found  his  wife  looking  out  of  the  win- 
dow, so  much  interested  that  she  did  not  notice  the  entrance 
of  her  husband,  who  took  off  his  boots,  and  putting  on  his 
slippers  made  himself  comfortable. 

The  wife  turned  around,  and  seeing  her  husband  putting 
on  his  morning  gown,  said,  "That  is  all  you  know,  to  make 
yourself  comfortable  and  easy,  and  your  family  is  suffering. 
I  tell  you,  sir,  I  suffer  when  I  think  of  our  carriage  horses 
and  harness,  how  shabby  they  looked  compared  with  the  car- 
riage and  horses  of  the  La  Monies.  They  just  passed  here. 
Mrs.  La  Monte  had  a  new  velvet  cloak,  which  must  have  cost 
at  least  three  hundred  dollars.  I  was  foolish  for  not  buying 


A   TALE   OP   REAL    LIFE.  73 

it.  Now  she  has  it.  She  even  had  the  impudence  to  look 
up  to  see  whether  I  noticed  it.  "What  an  unfortunate  woman 
am  I  to  have  a  husband  who  continually  begs  that  I  should 
not  spend  so  much  money!  Sir!  henceforth  I  will  buy 
whatever  I  want  and  fancy,  regardless  of  your  appeals  and 
implorations,  to  be  saved  such  feelings  as  I  now  experience." 

"Madam!"  exclaimed  the  husband,  with  a  tremulous  mo- 
tion, "  how  much  do  you  suppose  that  my  expenses  were  last 
year  to  keep  you  and  the  family  up  in  such  style  as  your 
vanity  dictated?" 

"  I  do  not  care  to  know !"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Hunting. 

"  You  do  not  care  to  know,  as  a  wife  and  as  a  mother?  It 
is  your  duty  to  know  the  amounts  of  money  it  takes  to  sup- 
ply your  extraordinary  wants.  As  a  faithful  wife  and  as  a 
good  mother,  it  is  your  most  solemn  duty  to  take  into  consid- 
eration whether  your  husband  can  afford  to  spend  so  much. 

"You  do  not  care  to  know,"  continued  the  husband,  in  a 
quivering  voice.  "  You  do  not  care  whether  your  husband 
becomes  a  bankrupt,  yourself  and  children  homeless  and  out- 
casts. You  do  not  care  for  the  future.  You  do  not  care  for 
anybody  or  anything  as  long  as  you  can  satisfy  your  vanity. 
Your  husband,  yourself,  sons  and  daughters,  and  everything 
thing  else,  may  go  to  destruction,  but  you  must  shine  and 
outshine  everybody  as  long  as  there  is  a  dollar  left  to  do 
it  with.  O  God !  what  a  future  is  there  for  me  and  mine  if 
this  continues !"  He  went  to  the  library,  which  was  in  the 
adjoining  room,  opened  a  book-case  and  brought  forth  a 
skull  and  other  parts  of  the  human  body.  He  placed  them 
on  the  table,  and  grasping  his  wife's  arm,  and  drawing  her 
toward  the  table,  he  cried :  "  See,  woman !  behold  these 
bones  and  that  skull !  In  their  days  they,  too,  were  covered 
with  flesh  and  skin,  and  now  they  serve  in  the  cabinet  of  the 
researching  student,  or  are  the  nests  of  worms.  That  what 
you  now  behold,  I  and  you  will  be  in  a  few  short  years. 
Why  be  so  vain  that  you  should  hasten  on  the  time  of  your 
husband  to  become  what  you  now  see?  "Why  give  way  to 
vanity  to  such  an  extent  that  higher  duties  are  neglected, 


74  OUR   PEOSPECTS. 

for,  know  #,"  and  at  these  words  he  struck  the  table  with 
his  fist  with  great  violence,  which  made  the  dead  bones 
rattle,  "know  lY,  that  our  children  are  worthless.  Charles  is 
a  gambler,  and  our  daughters  are  helpless  creatures.  Au- 
gustus, our  oldest,  was  raised  before  the  demon  of  vanity 
took  hold  of  your  body  and  soul,  and  therefore  he  is  a  use- 
ful member  of  society.  The  others  will  be  lost,  if  you  do  not 
solemnly  resolve  to  become  a  better  woman,  a  woman  who 
belongs  to  God  and  not  to  the  devil."  His  lips  moved^ 
but  he  could  not  utter  another  word.  His  eyes  wandered 
strangely,  and  he  sank  exhausted  in  the  nearest  chair. 

The  wife  trembled  like  a  leaf;  the  grinning,  ghastly  look- 
ing skull,  the  vehement  words  and  actions  of  her  husband 
overwhelmed  her  with  fear  and  anxiety.  She  fell  on  her 
knees,  grasped  the  feverish  hands  of  her  husband,  and  kiss- 
ing them  fervently,  called  loudly  out,  "  Edward,  what  is  the 
matter  with  you?  speak  to  me."  But  he  did  not  notice  her 
nor  her  words ;  his  lips  moved  and  uttered  no  sound;  his  eyes 
wandered  strangely.  "  Edward,  my  dear  Edward  !  speak, 
tell  me  what  you  want ;  I  will  do  all  that  you  want  me  to 
do."  He  heard  not  her  appeals;  she  wept  and  called  out 
again  and  again :  "  Edward,  dear  Edward  !  recognize  me 
once  more ;  command  me,  I  will  obey  like  a  wife  should  a 
good  and  wise  husband.  Edward,  thou  my  first  and  only 
love,  behold  me,  your  wife,  your  Kate,  is  kneeling  before  you, 
a  penitent  wife."  He  did  not  hear,  nor  see  her,  for  reason 
seemed  dethroned.  The  wife  became  greatly  alarmed  ;  she 
threw  herself  around  his  neck  and  kissed  him  with  all  the 
ardency  of  a  woman's  holy  love.  "  Edward,  my  love ;  Ed- 
ward, my  husband,  father  of  my  children,  behold,  it  is  me, 
your  wife,  who  promises  before  God  and  these  dead  bones, 
to  be  a  good  wife,  who  will  sincerely  care  for  your  welfare." 
The  ardent  caresses,  and  at  the  words  father  of  my  children, 
the  greatly  excited  husband  recovered  his  presence  of  mind, 
and  faintly  said  :  "  Bring  me  some  water." 

Never  did  Mrs.  Hunting  wait  on  her  husband  as  gladly 


A   TALE   OP    REAL    LIFE.  75 

and  quickly  as  she  did  on  that  occasion.  She  not  only 
brought  water,  but  also  a  washbowl  and  towel. 

"Do,  dear,  drink  and  wash  yourself;  how  could  you  excite 
yourself  so?" 

Mr.  Hunting  made  no  remark,  but  drank  some  water  and 
washed  his  hands,  face,  and  head. 

The  wife  assisted  him,  and  fluttered  around  as  a  mother 
does  when  the  baby  stands  for  the  first  time  on  its  feet. 

"  Do  you  feel  better,  dear  ?"  asked  the  wife,  affectionately. 

"  I  feel  somewhat  better,  but  my  head  is  yet  very  heavy. 
Too  much  anxiety,  too  much  care  on  my  mind ;  but  why 
mention  it  to  you;  you  do  not  care  what  loads  of  responsi- 
bilities I  have  to  carry,  as  long  as  I  am  only  able  to  pay  your 
bills." 

"  Forgive  me,  my  dear  husband ;  if  that  has  been  my  fail- 
ing, and  if  I  was  too  careless  of  your  means,  still  I  do  not 
think  that  I  have  spent  more  money  than  other  ladies  do  of 
our  standing,"  pleaded  the  wife,  earnestly. 

u  And  how  much  do  you  think  that  you  did  spend  last  year 
for  yourself,  daughters,  and  house  expenses?"  asked  the  hus- 
band. 

"  Indeed,  I  have  no  idea ;  I  never  gave  it  a  moment's  re- 
flection; how  much  did  we  spend  ?" 

''Nearly  twenty-three  thousand  dollars!"  exclaimed  the 
husband,  with  a  clouded  brow. 

"  Twenty-three  thousand  dollars  is  a  very  large  amount, 
is  it  not  a  mistake?"  inquired  the  wife. 

"No;  we  have  vouchers  for  every  dollar  of  that  large 
amount.  Such  large  expenditures  have  forced  me  into  doubt- 
ful speculations,  arid  I  have  lost  largely  and  my  position  as  a 
merchant  is  very  critical,  and  nothing  but  a  providential  in- 
terference and  great  economy  on  our  part,  will  save  me  from 
ruin,"  said  the  husband,  sadly. 

"  Can  you  not  make  a  loan  to  carry  you  over  the  critical 
period,  until  your  assets  will  be  available?"  asked  the  wife. 

The  husband  looked  sharplj7  up,  thinking  by  himself  how 
natural  it  seems  to  spendthrifts  to  loan  money,  and  even 


76  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

when  they  get  it,  to  spend  it  as  carelessly  as  if  it  were  not 
worth  while  to  keep  it.  They  lull  themselves  into  the  belief 
that  they  will  always  be  able  to  make  a  loan,  never  for  a 
moment  thinking  that  the  interest  and  their  own  carelessness 
consumes  their  substance,  and  before  they  are  aware  of  it> 
they  can  make  no  loan  at  any  rate  of  interest. 

"I  tried,"  said  he,  to  make  a  loan  yesterday,  in  order  to 
meet  one  of  my  notes  of  six  thousand  dollars;"  and  then  he 
told  his  wife  of  his  going  to  Beininger  for  dinner,  how  he  met 
the  cashier,  and  how  they  both  noticed  the  costly  cakes  taken 
out  of  the  store ;  how  the  cashier  particularly  inquired  for 
whom  those  cakes  were,  and  what  they  cost ;  that  he  asked 
the  cashier  to  accommodate  him  and  hold  his  note  over  for  a 
few  days  ;  how  flatly  ho  was  refused,  and  how  he  felt  to  be  at 
that  man's  mercy.  "  He  spoke  words,"  said  he,  "  that  went 
like  daggers  into  my  heart.  I  felt  humiliated  beyond  endu- 
rance. I  reached  my  counting-room  and  found  Wilkins 
lamenting  that  there  was  only  half  an  hour  left  to  raise  the 
six  thousand  dollars  to  meet  the  note  matured.  In  this  mo- 
ment of  desperation,  I  mailed  a  fifty  one-dollar  draft  to  our 
Eastern  bank  as  one  of  fifty-one  hundred  dollars.  Our  ac- 
count on  that  bank  is  small,  and  consequently  I  have  over- 
drawn it  to  a  large  amount.  If,  therefore,  I  can  not  raise  the 
money  to-day,  to  remit  it  to  the  bank,  then  my  draft  will  be 
returned,  stamped  'no  funds  here,'  and  that  will  not  only 
injure  my  credit  East,  but  also  here." 

"What  is  that  cashier's  name  who  treated  you  so  con- 
temptuously," asked  the  wife. 

"  John  James  La  Monte." 

"  What!"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Hunting,  "you  had  to  bow  so 
low  before  Mr.  La  Monte ;  and  he  glorified  in  your  humilia- 
tion, and  would  not  accommodate  you  after  all  ?" 

"  Yes,  it  is  the  very  La  Monte  whose  wife  you  wish  to  out- 
shine. The  confectioner  Beininger  presented  his  bill  for 
cakes  and  wines  at  the  office  before  he  delivered  them.  My 
bookkeeper  gave  him  a  check,  with  which  he  immediately 
went  to  the  bank ;  and  thus  the  cashier  knew  that  you  spent 


A    TALE   OF    REAL   LIFE.  77 

fifty  dollars  for  cakes  and  one  hundred  and  forty-five  dollars 
for  wines.  He  no  doubt  thought,  and  justly  too,  that  if  a 
man  has  a  wife  who  spends  one  hundred  and  ninety-five  dol- 
lars for  cakes  and  other  things,  he  ought  to  be  able  to  meet 
his  notes  promptly ;  and  if  not,  his  wife  would  have  no  busi- 
ness to  be  so  extravagant,  and  that,  therefore,  I  had  no  right 
to  call  on  him  for  any  accommodation.  If  my  draft  is  returned 
with  '  no  funds  here,'  I  will  be  looked  upon  as  a  merchant 
capable  of  doing  most  anything  in  order  to  make  a  raise,  to 
keep  up  an  extravagant  establishment  and  live  in  a  grand 
style.  If  this  impression  once  prevails  in  the  business  world, 
my  credit  is  gone,  and  a  merchant  without  means  and  credit 
can  not  succeed ;  he  has  to  succumb.  My  position  is  truly 
critical.  Time  flies,  only  a  few  hours  more  are  left  me  to 
raise  this  money,  and,  oh !  where  shall  I  go  to  cover  my 
draft?"  His  head  fell  on  his  breast,  and  he  wrung  his  hands 
in  despair. 

The  wife  became  alarmed  for  fear  that  this  great  mental 
strain  might  dethrone  her  husband's  reason,  and  again  she 
begged  and  implored  her  husband. 

"Edward,  my  darling,"  said  she,  "  don't  despair.  See 
here!"  and  with  these  words  she  opened  a  drawer  of  her 
bureau  and  took  from  it  a  casket  of  jewels.  "  Here,  take 
these  jewels,  my  diamond  rings,  my  diamond  breast-pins 
and  earrings,"  taking  them  from  off  her  fingers  and  ears  j 
"  take  them,  pawn  or  sell  them,  I  need  no  other  jewel,  no 
other  ornament,  but  my  wedding  ring.  To  see  my  husband 
free  of  all  cares  and  anxieties  and  respected  by  all,  is  my 
only  wish  !" 

The  husband  was  dumb-founded.  He  hardly  could  believe 
his  own  eyes,  and  he  had  to  pinch  himself  to  ascertain 
whether  he  was  asleep  and  dreaming,  or  whether  he  was 
actually  awake  and  this  his  wife  who  proposed  to  pawn  or 
sell  her  jewels  in  order  to  save  him  from  disgrace.  While 
this  passed  through  his  mind,  his  wife,  noticing  his  silence, 
cried :  "  Do,  my  dear  husband,  take  these  jewels,  dispose  of 


78  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

them  as  you  think  best,  and  only  see  that  you  can  cover 
your  draft  so  that  it  is  not  returned." 

"  Thank  you,  my  dear  wife,  for  your  very  kind  offerings* 
since  it  must  be  a  great  sacrifice  for  you  to  part  with  your 
jewels." 

"  I  part  with  them  gladly  to  save  the  good  name  of  my 
dear  husband,"  answered  the  wife,  her  eyes  filling  with  tears. 

The  husband  arose  from  his  chair  and,  opening  the  costly 
casket,  took  from  it  one  large  pearl  necklace,  broach  and 
earrings  to  match,  one  gold  and  pearl  necklace  with  broach 
and  earrings  to  match,  one  gold  necklace,  bracelets,  earrings 
and  broach  to  match,  one  diamond  set,  gold  watch  and  chain 
and  several  charms  of  great  value,  among  which  there  was 
one  piece  representing  two  hearts,  set  with  costly  diamonds 
and  with  an  enameled  eagle  spreading  his  wings  over  them. 
This  was  his  first  present  to  his  wife.  At  the  sight  of  it, 
and  at  such  a  moment,  and  for  such  a  purpose,  he  felt  keenly 
his  truly  sad  and  deplorable  position.  Tears  burst  from  his 
eyes,  and  he  exclaimed: 

"  No,  I  can  not  and  I  will  not  take  these  jewels !" 

He  stretched  out  .his  open  arms  toward  his  wife  who  rushed 
to  him,  covered  him  with  kisses,  and  both  wept. 

"  God,  Thou  kind  Father  of  all,  help  my  dear  husband, 
help  us  in  this  our  hour  of  great  need,"  prayed  the  wife  from 
her  innermost  soul.  "Help  us!  help  us!"  A  sudden 
thought  passed  through  her  mind — self-reproach.  "  Why 
should  God  help  me  now  ?  Have  I  ever  thought  of  God  in 
my  prosperity,  have  I  ever  helped  others  that  I  should 
be  now  worthy  of  His  help?"  No,  then,  she  did  not  think 
of  God;  she  went  to  the  "meeting  house  "  not  to  pray  and 
give  thanksgiving  to  the  Almighty  Father,  but  only  to  show 
her  elegant  attire  and  costly,  glittering  jewels. 

Yes,  many  a  good  wife  and  many  a  good  and  obedient 
daughter  had  stayed  away  from  the  house  of  worship, 
because  they  looked  so  poorly  dressed  compared  with 
the  grand  lady,  Mrs.  Hunting.  Had  she  been  charitable? 
No,  she  had  no  time  for  poor  people.  Her  mind  was  occu- 


A   TALE    OP    REAL    LIFE.  79 

pied  only  with  beautifying  her  person,  in  order  to  be  envied 
by  her  sex  and  admired  by  the  other.  "Was  it  right  for  a 
wife  and  mother  to  set  them  and  her  neighbors  such  an  ex- 
ample? What  claim  had  she  on  God's  grace  now?  Surely 
none.  Forsaken  by  our  Heavenly  Father,  what  are  we  poor 
depending  creatures?  Nothing  but  dust,  which  the  wind 
blows  in  the  river,  and  hence  is  carried  into  the  ocean,  a  bed 
for  the  salted  waters,  to  be  cleansed  from  its  impurity  in  the 
course  of  uncountable  centuries. 

"  Thou  great  God,  be  merciful  unto  me.  I  confess  that  I 
have  been  a  sinner,  that  I  have  not  fulfilled  my  mission  to 
be  a  good  wife  and  a  good  mother,  that  I  have  not  been 
what  a  woman  should  be,  an  '  Angel  of  Peace.' 

"Thou  Omnipotent,  hear  my  prayers,  spare  us  from  dis- 
grace, prolong  the  life  of  my  husband  and  myself,  that  we 
may  live  according  to  Thy  precept :  '  Man  and  wife  shall  be 
one,'  whose  duty  it  is  to  lead  a  model  life,  for  their  own  sake, 
the  sake  of  their  children,  their  fellow-beings,  and  for  the 
sake  of  Thy  Holy  Spirit,  of  whom  we  are  a  part." 

A  gentle  knock  was  heard  on  the  door.  Both  husband 
and  wife  hastened  to  wipe  their  tears  to  conceal  their 
emotion. 

"  Come  in,"  said  Mr.  Hunting.     It  was  Agnes. 

"  Papa,  there  is  a  lady  in  the  parlor,  who  wishes  to  see 
you  alone." 

Mrs.  Hunting  started.  She  did  not  ,say  anjHhing,  but 
asked  herself,  what  does  this  mean  ?  A  lady  coming  to  the 
house,  wishing  to  see  my  husband  alone ! 

"  You  must  be  mistaken,  Agnes,"  said  Mr.%  Hunting  to  his 
daughter,  "  when  you  say  that  the  lady  wishes  to  see  me, 
and  alone.  I  do  not  know  of  any  lady  who  has  business 
with  me  so  urgent  as  to  call  on  a  New  Year's  day  at  my 
house." 

"  No,  papa,"  answered  Agnes,  "  I  am  not  mistaken,  she 
clearly  said  she  must  see  you  alone." 

"  I  am  really  in  no  humor  to  see  any  one  to-day.  G-o  and 
ask  her  whether  she  could  not  come  to-morrow  morning 


80  OUR   PROSrECTS. 

here,  or  later  in  the  day  to  my  counting  room,"  said  Mr. 
Hunting. 

Agnes  left  the  room  to  do  her  father's  bidding. 

"I  wonder  who  that  can  be?"  asked  Mr.  Hunting. 

"  I  can  not  tell  if  you  can  not,"  answered  Mrs.  Hunting. 
But  it  seems  strange  that  a  lady  should  come  to  the  house, 
and  request  to  see  you  alone.  Edward,  it  would  kill  me,  if  I 
would  find  out,  that  you  have  secrets  before  your  wife." 

The  husband  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  in  an  angry  tone  ex- 
claimed :  "  Kate,  how  can  you  have  such  thoughts  of  your 
husband.  Your  husband  has  no  secrets  before  his  wife,  for 
I  wish  and  expect  to  do  as  I  want  to  be  done  by."  He  was 
about  to  ring  the  bell  and  give  an  order,  when  Agnes  re- 
appeared, and  said : 

"  Papa,  the  lady  says  that  she  will  leave  the  city  this  even- 
ing, and  she  wishes  to  see  you  before  her  departure." 

"  Then,  please,  excuse  me  to  her  that  I  can  not  come  down 
in  the  parlor,  but  show  her  up  into  my  sitting  room,  where 
I  will  meet  her ;"  and  turning  to  his  wife,  he  said,  "  come 
with  me  to  meet  the  lady  who  wishes  to  see  me  alone.  I 
have  no  secrets  before  my  wife  I  am  afraid  she  should  know." 

Well  would  it  be  for  the  whole  human  family,  if  every  husband 
and  every  wife  would  cherish  such  holy  principles,  and  live 
according  to  them. 

Entering  the  up-stairs  sitting  room,  they  found  a  middle 
aged  lady,  neatly  dressed.  She  arose  from  her  seat  and 
made  a  very  respectful  bow  before  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunting, 
who  returned  the  courtesy  with  equal  respect  and  grace. 

"Mr.  Hunting,  do  you  not  recognize  me?"  asked  the 
visitor,  in  a  voice  full  of  emotion. 

"  No,  madam.  I  can  not  call  to  mind  when  or  where  I 
have  seen  you,"answered  Mr.  Hunting,  after  looking  sharply 
at  the  stranger. 

"  Do  you  recollect,  when  about  fifteen  years  ago,  you  had 
a  tenant  by  the  name  of  Mrs.  Ida  Lothimore,  a  widow  with 
two  sons  and  one  daughter,  who  was  at  that  time  too  poor  to 
pay  her  rent?  For  many  months  you  indulged  her  in  not 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  81 

paying  the  rent ;  then  you  came  and  gave  her  verbal  notice 
to  leave  the  premises.  But  when  that  poor  widow  related  to 
you  her  poverty,  her  helplessness  with  three  dependent 
children,  tears  stood  in  your  eyes,  tears  of  sympathy  for  the 
poor  helpless  widow  and  orphans.  You  said,  nevermind  the 
rent,  just  stay  in  this  room,  without  paying  any  rent  until 
you  are  able.  You  opened  your  purse  and  handed  that  poor 
woman  two  twenty-dollar  bank  notes,  saying  at  the  same 
time,  I  loan  you  this  money,  start  with  it  some  kind  of  a 
business  that  will  support  you  and  your  children  honestly, 
and  whenever  you  are  able  to  pay  me  back  the  money,  you 
can  call  at  my  place  of  business.  You  left  without  waiting 
to  receive  thanks  from  that  poor  widow  who  now  stands  be- 
fore you," — she  could  not  proceed,  sorrow  mingled  with  joy 
overpowered  her,  and  she  wept  tears  of  heartfelt  gratitude 
and  joy. 

"Be  seated,  madam,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Hunting,  greatly 
moved.  "  Don't  weep ;  calm  yourself;  I  am  still  the  friend 
of  the  needy." 

"  I  know  it,"  responded  Mrs.  Ida  Lothimore,  "and  that  is 
another  reason  I  called  to  see  you.  Please  have  patience 
with  me,  I  can  not  proceed,"  and  afresh  burst  of  tears  stifled 
her  voice.  At  last  she  recovered  herself,  and  said  :  "  Those 
two  twenty-dollar  bills  enabled  me  to  move,  with  my  chil- 
dren, to  the  State  of  Texas,  where  I  had  a  very  wealthy 
brother  living,  unmarried,  but  alas  !  wedded  to  the  cup.  He 
hated  the  very  sight  of  a  woman,  and  would  not  receive  me ; 
but  at  last  he  permitted  me,  for  the  sake  of  my  children,  to 
remain  on  his  premises.  I  attended  to  his  comfort,  to  the 
best  of  my  ability.  With  the  help  of  the  Almighty,  and  my 
own  feeble  efforts,  I  succeeded  in  making  him  abjure  that 
dreadful  vice,  the  ruin  to  all.  He  led  a  useful  life  and  assisted 
me  in  educating  my  children.  My  sons  are  now  master  me- 
chanics in  my  adopted  State,  my  daughter  married  a  very 
good  and  very  wealthy  planter,  and  they  are  now  on  their 
way  to  Europe  to  spend  their  honeymoon.  I  intend  joining 
them  in  Xew  York,  but  I  could  not  leave  the  land  of  my 


82  OUK   PROSPECTS. 

birth  before  visiting  and  planting  flowers  over  the  grave  of 
my  departed  noble  husband.  I  could  not  leave  this  city  be- 
fore seeing  you,  my  great  benefactor."  She  grasped  his 
hands  and  kissed  them.  "  Thanks,  again  and  again,  for  the 
kindness  you  have  shown  to  me  in  the  hour  of  need,  for  you 
have  saved  me  and  my  children  from  degrading  poverty. 
Through  you  my  noble  brother — may  his  ashes  rest  in  peace ! 
— was  saved  from  a  drunkard's  grave.  He  left  me  and  my 
children  his  vast  estate,  worth  a  million  of  dollars.  I  am 
really  at  a  loss  what  to  do  with  so  much  wealth,  and  am  re- 
solved to  use  it  for  charitable  purposes;  and,  knowing  from 
personal  experience  that  you  are  a  gentleman  who  feels  for 
the  unfortunate,  I  take  the  liberty  of  depositing  with  you 
here  ten  drafts,  each  for  ten  thousand  dollars,  payable  to 
your  order  at  New  York.  I  request  you  to  loan  out  this 
money,  in  sums  not  exceeding  five  thousand  dollars,  to  worthy 
young  merchants,  and  young  mechanics  who  wish  to  start 
in  business  for  themselves,  giving  them  such  time  as  your 
judgment  will  approve  of,  and  not  charging  them  a  higher 
rate  of  interest  than  four  per  cent.,  said  interest  to  be  paya- 
ble quarterly,  and  as  soon  as  collected  to  be  given  to  helpless 
widows,  on  the  sole  condition  that  if  they  have  children  under 
age,  to  have  them  learn  a  trade  in  a  well-conducted  estab- 
lishment, whose  head  is  known  to  be  a  good  moral  man,  and 
who  abhors  intoxicating  drink."  ' 

Mr.  Hunting  did  not  take  the  ten  ten-thousand  dollar 
drafts  offered  him.  He  looked  at  the  noble  woman  in  a  be- 
wildered manner,  and  said  : 

"Madam,  I  thank  you  for  the  great  compliment  paid  me, 
but  the  trust  and  responsibility  is  too  great.  You  had  better 
intrust  your  donation  to  some  one  more  capable,  and  better 
than  I  am." 

"  My  noble  benefactor,  you  are  no  stranger  to  me.  I  know 
that  the  trust  is  in  safe  and  good  hands,"  and  pressing  the 
drafts  into  his  hands,  she  continued:  "You  need  not  give 
me  a  receipt,  but  send  me  a  copy  as  entered  on  your  ledger, 


A   TALE   OF    REAL    LIFE.  83 

and  direct  it  to  Mrs.  Ida  Lothimore,  Grand  Hotel,  Paris, 
France." 

Then,  turning  to  Mrs.  Hunting,  she  said  in  a  very  affec- 
tionate tone  : 

"Madam,  will  you  do  me  the  great  kindness  to  accept  this 
draft  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  payable  to  bearer,  as  a  token 
of  admiration  for  the  wife  who  uses  her  influence  in  behalf 
of  the  poor,  and  who  makes  of  her  husband  a  philanthro- 
pist?" 

Mrs.  Hunting  grew  pale,  and  stammered  out : 

"  Ma —  mad —  madam,  you  are  very  kind,  but " 

"Please,  say  nothing,"  interrupted  Mrs.  Lothimore,  "but 
take  it.  It  is  a  great  pleasure,  a  great  pleasure,  indeed,  to 
me,"  and  pressing  the  draft  in  the  hands  of  Mrs.  Hunting, 
she  quickly  left  the  room  and  the  house. 

A  carriage  was  in  waiting,  which  she  entered,  and  order- 
ing the  coachman  to  drive  on,  she  gave  way  to  her  own 
thoughts  and  emotion. 

"  O,  how  glad  am  I  that  this  interview  is  over !  How  care- 
worn that  good  man  looks;  and  his  wife,  how  she  felt  the 
sting  of  self-reproach.  It  is  true  it  cost  me  ten  thousand 
dollars,  but  what  are  ten  thousand  dollars  to  me?  I  will 
not  leave  my  children  too  great  an  inheritance,  for  too  much 
money  only  spoils  them.  Let  me  leave  them  less  money,  but 
more  of  a  good  example,  and  above  all,  a  good  name ;  a  good 
name  is  a  fortune  in  itself." 

Mrs.  Hunting  seemed  as  if  rooted  to  the  spot.  The  words, 
as  a  token  of  admiration  for  the  wife  who  uses  her  influence  in 
behalf  of  the  poor,  and  who  makes  of  her  husband  a  philanthro- 
pist, haunted  her,  for  she  knew  that  she  had  not  been  good 
to  the  poor,  that,  on  the  contrary,  she  had  oppressed  them 
wherever  she  had  the  least  chance.  The  poor  seamstress  not 
only  had  to  sew  for  her  at  the  very  lowest  price,  but  she  had 
to  call  half  a  dozen  times  before  she  could  receive  her  hard- 
earned  money,  notwithstanding  her  tearful  appeal  to  the 
proud  and  overbearing  woman. 

How  often  had  she  told  the  servant  girl  when  Committees 


84  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

called  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  and  needy,  to  tell  them  that  the 
mistress  was  not  at  home  ;  and  even  how  she  had  reproached 
and  found  fault  with  her  husband  for  subscribing  so  liberally 
to  the  "  Eelief  Fund;  "  and  how  often  she  had  scorned  and 
driven  away  from  her  house  the  poor  woman  begging  for  a 
piece  of  bread  to  keep  her  children  from  starving. 

"/charitable  and  good  to  the  poor!  It  is  mockery,"  ex- 
claimed Mrs.  Hunting.  "Ha!  that  former  beggar  woman 
only  wished  to  taunt  and  mock  me!  Let  me  hasten  after 
her  and  give  her  back  this  money.  It  burns  my  fingers  like 
living  coals." 

She  rushed  down  stairs,  and  to  the  front  door,  which  was 
just  opened  by  a  New  Year's  caller.  She  saw  Mrs.  Lothimore 
enter  her  carriage  and  drive  away. 

"Too  late!  too  late!"  groaned  the  unhappy  woman, 
when  she  returned  to  her  room.  "What  shall  I  do  with  this 
money  ?  I  am  not  entitled  to  it." 

Self-reproach  again  tormented  her,  and,  wringing  her 
hands  in  despair,  she  bitterly  cried  : 

"What  has  been  my  life!  Void  of  every  noble  thought 
and  action,  I  have  only  striven  to  gratify  my  vanity  at  the 
expense  of  my  husband,  who  has  nearly  become  a  bankrupt. 
The  welfare  of  my  children  I  have  trodden  under  my  feet, 
and  set  them  and  my  fellow-beings  an  example,  to  think 
of  which  I  shudder.  If  I  should  die  to-day,  am  I  pre- 
pared to  cross  the  dark  river  which  meets  us  beyond?  No! 
no !  My  friends — and  are  they  friends? — would  follow  my  re- 
mains to  the  grave,  not  to  show  their  respect,  but  merely  to 
obey  fashion  and  custom.  And  who,  then,  is  going  to  follow 
me  beyond  the  grave,  to  stand  at  my  side  when  called  upon 
for  final  judgment?  Not  my  friends,  nor  my  wealth,  nor  my 
costly  garments  and  jewels.  All  these  are  left  behind,  they 
can  not  follow  me.  Good  deeds  only  which  we  have  done  on 
earth  go  before  us  to  the  throne  of  the  Great  Judge,  to 
counterbalance  our  shortcomings.  Good  deeds  are  not  only 
rewarded  in  heaven  but  also  on  earth.  Have  I  not  witnessed 
that  forty  dollars  given  by  my  noble  husband,  fifteen  years 


A   TALE    OF    REAL    LIFE.  85 

ago,  to  a  poor  widow,  saved  a  human  being  from  a  drunkard's 
grave ;  were  the  means  to  educate  three  children  and  keep 
them  on  the  path  of  usefulness  and  virtue?  They  made  of 
the  poor  helpless  widow  a  millionaire,  and  she  now  comes  to 
the  rescue  of  other  poor  and  despairing  beings,  among  whom 
I  may  count  now  my  good  husband.  The  very  ten  thousand 
dollars  she  gave  me,  were,  without  doubt,  intended  for  him. 
At  all  events,  it  don't  belong  to  me;  /don't  deserve  it,"  and 
turning  toward  her  husband,  she  called,  "Edward,  dear," 
but  he  did  not  hear  her,  for  he  was  lost  in  thoughts,  in  holy 
thoughts,  for  he  communed  with  God. 

"  Eddy,  my  darling,"  called  she  again  in  her  most  affect- 
ionate tone.  He  turned  around,  looked  at  his  wife,  with  his 
eyes  full  of  tears,  and  said :  "  Did  you  call  me,  dear?" 

"  Yes,  dear,  please  take  this  draft  of  ten  thousand  dollars. 
I  have  no  right  to  keep  it,  for  I  have  just  done  the  reverse  of 
what  Mrs.  Lothimore  said  ;  take  it,  my  husband,  and  cover 
your  draft,  and  make  your  bank  account  good." 

At  the  words  "  cover  your  draft,  make  your  bank  account 
good,"  Mr.  Hunting  started,  for  there  was  no  time  to  be  lost, 
as  the  Eastern  mail  was  about  "closing.  He  took  the  draft  on 
condition  that  his  wife  should  draw  on  him  for  the  amount, 
whenever  she  chose. 

"I  will,"  answered  the  wife,  "but  only  for  charitable  pur- 
poses." 

"  I  will  now  go  down  town  and  mail  the  draft  to  my  East- 
ern Bank  and  telegraph  all  particulars.  You,  dear,  go  in 
the  parlor,  to  receive  the  New-Year's  callers,  the  daughters 
•will  need  your  assistance,"  said  Mr.  Hunting. 

With  a  light  heart  and  quick  steps  Mr.  Hunting  went 
down  town  to  his  counting-room,  deposited  the  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars  in  his  safe,  and  made  an  entry  in  his 
Ledger,  giving  credit  to  Mrs.  Ida  Lothimore,  of  Texas,  for 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  said  money  being  deposited 
with  him,  to  be  loaned  in  not  larger  amounts  than  five  thou- 
sand dollars,  on  approved  paper,  to  worthy  young  merchants 
and  mechanics  who  would  wish  to  start  in  business  for  them- 


86  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

selves,  on  such  time  as  his  judgment,  or  a  board  of  trustees, 
appointed  by  the  aforesaid  Mrs.  Ida  Lothimore  may  think 
best,  and  not  to  charge  the  debtors  with  a  higher  rate  of  in- 
terest than  four  per  cent.  Said  interest  to  be  payable  quart- 
erly, and  as  soon  as  collected  to  be  presented  to  helpless 
widows,  on  the  condition  that  if  they  have  children  under 
age,  they  are  in  duty  bound  to  have  them  learn  a  trade,  in  a 
well-conducted  establishment,  whose  chief  is  known  to  be  a 
good  moral  man,  and  who  abstains  from  strong  and  intoxi- 
cating liquors. 

That  done,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  the  Eastern  bank  cashier, 
inclosing  the  ten  thousand  dollar  draft,  hoping  "  that  the  mis- 
take made  in  their  last  remittance  would  be  excused."  He 
also  wrote  the  following  telegram : 

"Through  an  oversight  I  have  overdrawn  my  account 
largely.  Please  honor  my  draft,  funds  forwarded  to-day. 

EDWARD  HUNTING." 

He  mailed  the  letter  and  forwarded  the  telegram. 

On  his  way  home  he  was  reflecting  on  what  had  occurred 
since  last  night.  His  feelings  had  undergone  a  great  change  : 
yesterday  he  went  home  in  a  depressed  and  despairing  state 
of  mind,  all  cloudy  and  gloomy  before  him;  to-day,  his  steps 
were  buoyant  and  full  of  hope,  and  oh !  how  grateful  did  he 
feel  to  his  brave  and  noble  bookkeeper !  On  the  very  brink 
of  becoming  a  drunkard,  he  had  been  saved  by  that  man's 
timely  and  earnest  appeal  and  interference.  He  recalled  to 
his  mind  his  resolution  and  promise,  not  to  take  any  liquors, 
the  bookkeeper's  joy,  and  how  he  bravely  passed  all  tempta- 
tions on  his  way  home  that  night. 

What,  above  all,  would  Mrs.  Lothimore  have  thought  of 
him,  if  he  had  fallen  a  victim  to  the  cup  and  she  have  found 
him  in  such  a  state  at  his  home  !  Would  she  have  intrusted 
him  with  her  donation,  to  make  glad  many  a  sorrowful 
heart  ?  No !  Having  had  full  trust  and  reliance  in  his 
honor  and  character,  she  would  have  felt  so  disappointed  in 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  87 

her  charitable  purposes,  that  she  would  have  very  likely 
changed  her  mind  altogether.  Now,  it  was  within  his  power 
to  render  the  homes  of  at  least  twenty  families  happy  and 
contented ;  and  twenty  happy  families  are  already  a  solid 
foundation  of  a  State.  From  small  acorns  grow  large  trees, 
and  that  one  act  of  his  charity  and  kindness,  rendered  to 
the  once  poor  and  needy  widow,  had  been  a  seed,  bearing 
hundredfold  fruits.  Had  he  not  himself  received  his  reward, 
by  being  enabled  to  cover  his  draft  and  save  his  credit  ? 
Truly,  every  act  has  its  own  reward ;  as  you  will  sow}  so  you 
will  reap. 


CHAPTBE    VI. 
NEW  TEAR'S  DAY. 

IF  there  is  any  day  in  the  year  which  ought  to  be  the  day 
of  reflection,  the  day  of  reasoning,  the  day  when  noble  reso- 
lutions are  formed,  it  should  be  the  New  Year's  day.  Mer- 
chants who  have  balanced  their  books,  showing  no  headway, 
ought  to  reflect,  reason,  and  resolve  how  to  stop  the  leaks, 
else  their  frail  ship  will  sink,  sink  when  they  are  old  and 
feeble,  and  unable  to  swim  against  the  current  and  swift  tide. 
Young  men  who  are  so  fortunate  as  to  have  steady  employ- 
ment, and  have  saved  nothing  from  their  last  year's  earnings, 
ought  to  resolve  on  that  day  to  live  less  extravagantly,  to 
wear  not  so  fine  clothes,  and  to  have  in  some  good  and  relia- 
ble saving  institution  something  laid  by  for  the  rainy  days 
of  life,  when  sickness,  unforeseen  misfortune,  or  old  age,  ren- 
der them  unable  to  work.  What  a  blessing  to  have  then  a 
source  to  draw  upon,  and  to  be  thus  saved  from  being 
dependent  on  relatives,  or  even  become  a  person  of  public 
charity.  Every  young  man,  be  he  rich  or  poor,  ought  to  be 
careful  of  his  means,  and  remember  that  fools  squander  their 
money,  but  the  wise  husband  it,  and  use  it  for  beneficial  and 


88  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

noble  purposes.  Young  men  ought  to  be  the  staff  and  shield 
of  their  old  parents,  their  sisters,  their  younger  brothers ; 
and  to  become  useful  members  of  society.  What  a  blessing 
to  all,  wfren  a  father  or  a  mother  can  proudly  and  conscien- 
tiously say :  "  Our  sons  are  useful  members  of  the  family  and 
of  society."  They  are  pillars  on  which  the  welfare  of  the 
family  and  of  the  State  may  safely  rest.  To  be  such  a  son, 
one  can  not  be  a  spendthrift  or  dreamer,  but  he  must  turn 
his  quarter  twice  before  he  decides  to  spend  it ;  one  who 
dreams  not  with  his  eyes  open,  but  who  works  with  a  fixed 
purpose. 

The  New  Year's  day  should  be  the  very  day  on  which 
bachelors  should  decide  to  give  up  single  blessedness  and 
become  double  blessed,  by  entering  the  holy  shrine  of  matri- 
mony, for  no  man  is  complete  unless  he  marries,  and  when  he 
is  married  and  happily  mated,  his  best  qualities  are  drawn 
out  to  his  own  great  benefit  and  to  that  of  humanity.  If 
men  wish  to  prosper,  live  happy,  make  their  mark  in  the 
world,  and  not  pass  away  like  a  shadow  on  the  wall,  let  them 
seriously  look  around  to  find  the  right  person,  and  marry, 
and  thus  fulfill  the  wise  precept,  "  Marry  and  multiply."  A 
married  life  is  the  only  true  life  to  live. 

The  New  Year's  day  should  also  be  the  day  for  heads  of 
families  to  review,  camly,  the  past  year,  to  see  where  and 
when  mistakes  were  made,  and  to  make  a  note  of  it,  in  order 
to  avoid  them  in  the  future.  If  they  know,  after  mature 
reflection,  that  their  children  do  not  associate  with  the  right 
company,  to  reason  with  them  in  time,  ere  it  is  too  late,  and 
remember  that  a  kind  word  goes  further  than  a  harsh  one. 

The  New  Year's  day  should  also  be  the  day  on  which  the 
more  favored,  the  more  fortunate,  should  remember  the  less 
favored  of  his  family,  not  to  give  them  money,  for  that  would 
degrade  them,  but  to  assist  them  directly  and  indirectly  so 
that  they,  too,  might  get  along  better  in  this  world.  And  if 
they  have  so  decided  upon,  let  them  remain  firm  to  carry  out 
their  noble  resolution.  Even  if  they  receive  no  thanks,  but 
ingratitude  in  return,  they  will  have  one  great  satisfaction, 


A   TALE  OF   REAL    LIFE.  89 

that  of  having  done  their  duty  toward  those  who  possess  a 
claim  on  them  through  family  ties. 

New-year's  day  should  also  be  the  day  on  which  the  poor 
at  large  should  be  remembered  and  appropriations  be  made 
for  the  coming  years  and  as  the  year  advances,  not  to  de- 
crease, but  rather  increase  the  benevolent  gifts,  thanking 
God  that  we  are  able  to  give,  that  we  are  the  givers  and  not 
the  suppliants. 

New-year's  day  should  also  be  the  day  to  make  a  last 
will  and  testament,  especially  if  the  estate  is  large;  and 
when  making  our  will,  it  would  not  be  amiss  to  remember 
Mrs.  Ida  Lolthimore's  wise  words:  '•It  is  not  my  intention  to 
leave  to  my  children  too  much  of  an  inheritance,  for  too  much 
money  only  spoils  them.'  Let  us  leave  them  less  money,  but 
more  of  a  good  example,  and,  above  all,  a  good  name.  A 
good  name  is  a  fortune  in  itself.  Remember  also  the  public 
institutions  liberally,  and  your  name  as  benefactor  will  go 
down  to  posterity. 

New-year's  day  should  also  be  the  day  to  examine  our- 
selves in  a  religious  point  of  view.  The  beast  which  pas- 
tures on  the  field,  or  is  fed  by  the  hand  of  man,  is  not 
endowed  with  that  blessed  intellect,  to  think  of  the  great 
hereafter;  it  is  man  only  who  is  so  blessed,  and  there- 
fore shall  we  not  reason  and  reflect  on  that  which  con- 
cerns us  the  most — the  life  beyond  the  grave?  Can  sins  be 
forgiven?  We  have  our  serious  doubts.  Sins  can  be  re- 
moved only,  and  atoned  for,  by  sincere  repentance  and  a  mul- 
titude of  good  deeds.  If  this  view  is  correct,  then  it  is  within 
the  power  of  every  one  to  be  purified  of  their  sins,  through 
sincere  repentance  and  through  a  multitude  of  good  deeds;  and 
every  one,  be  he  ever  so  poorly  educated,  or  so  poor  in 
means,  has  it  within  his  power  to  repent,  to  do  good,  and 
thus  the  soul  will  return  pure  to  the  Great  Spirit,  the  giver 
of  all  that  is  good. 


90  OUR   PROSPECTS. 


HOLINESS. 

BE  holy,  man,  the  Lord  commands, 

Like  angels,  goodness  love  ; 
Lift  up  thine  eye,  thy  heart,  and  hands, 

To  G-od  enthroned  above. 
In  yonder  sea  of  starry  light, 

Where  pure  Seraphim  shine, 
Immerse  thy  soul  with  pure  delight, 

Let  holiness  be  thine. 

To  man,  to  God's  own  image  cling 

With  love's  refulgent  fire ; 
The  true  and  good  to  man  to  bring 

Let  be  thy  heart's  desire ; 
For  wisdom  live,  for  virtue  glow, 

With  God  thy  soul  entwine, 
An  angel  be  on  earth  below, 

And  holiness  is  thine. 

The  choicest  gifts,  all  joys  divine, 

By  holiness  are  won ; 
It's  bliss  from  virtues  sacred  shrine, 

Salvation's  precious  sun. 
The  hallowed  soul  with  rapture  sings 

The  Lord's  eternal  praise, 
She  soars  aloft  on  golden  wings 

To  heaven's  purest  grace. 

Dr.  Isaac  M.  Wise. 


A   TALE    OF    REAL    LIFE.  91 


CHAPTEK  VII. 

PHILANTHROPY. 

The  love  of  mankind 

Is  thine, 

Of  which  none  will  rob  thee, 

And  God  will  love  thee. 

"I  am  back  again,  as  you  see,  Mrs.  Hopewell,"  said  Mrs. 
Ida  Lotnimore,  entering  a  poorly  furnished  room,  without  a 
carpet,  but  a  very  cleanly  scrubbed  floor.  There  were  two 
large  bedsteads,  and  under  them  could  be  seen  beds  on  rol- 
lers for  the  little  ones  to  sleep  on,  a  large  table,  a  few  chairs, 
one  large  wardrobe,  an  old-fashioned  clock  on  the  mantle- 
piece,  a  stove  and  the  kitchen  utensils,  besides  a  small  foot- 
bench  for  grandmother,  comprised  the  whole  furniture. 
There  were  no  ornaments  to  be  seen,  except  two  elegantly 
bound  volumes  of  Shakspeare  and  Webster's  unabridged 
dictionary.  The  grandmother  Hopewell  had  a  very  large 
and  beautiful  Bible  open  on  her  lap,  reading  with  great  at- 
tention. She  looked  up  and  greeted  Mrs.  Lothimore  with  a 
friendly  bow,  saying,  "  Daughter,  give  Mrs.  Lothimore  a 
chair.  Excuse  me,  I  will  be  done  directly." 

The  daughter  was  surrounded  by  four  children,  two  boys 
and  two  girls,  who  looked  the  very  image  of  cleanliness  and 
health,  resembling  their  mother  in  beauty  and  gracefulness. 
She  arose  and  handed  a  chair  to  the  visitor,  saying,  "You 
must  excuse  my  dear  mother  for  being  so  rude  to  let.  you 
wait,  but  it  is  her  rule  never  to  answer  a  question  or  give 
any  attention  to  anything  else  when  she  reads  the  Bible 
until  she  gets  through." 

"  She  is  excused,"  remarked  Mrs.  Lothimore.  "Are  these 
all  your  children,  Avelina?"  taking,  at  the  same  time,  one  of 
the  volumes  of  Shakspeare  in  her  hand,  and  reading  on  the 


ya  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

fly-leaf,  in  a  good  hand-writing,  "Presented  to  my  dear  wife 
and  children,  on  the  day  I  leave  for  the  field  of  battle  to 
defend  my  country,  by  their  loving  husband  and  father, 
Richard  Gardner." 

"  Yes,  Mrs.  Lothiraore,  these  are  all  my  children.  Soon 
after  you  left  I  married  a  young  man  by  the  name  of  Ei chard 
Gardner,  and  every  two  years  i  presented  him  with  a  child. 
The  oldest  is  a  boy,  and  now  thirteen  years  of  age.  We  got 
along  well.  He  was  a  saddler  by  trade,  and  earned  twenty- 
five  dollars  a  week.  But  when  the  war  broke  out  he  was 
one  of  the  first  to  volunteer,  and  he  fell  while  storming  a 
strong  position  of  the  enemy." 

The  eyes  of  Mrs.  Lothimore  were  filled  with  tears,  when 
she  asked,  "  And  how  did  you  manage  to  support  yourself, 
children  and  grandmother  ?" 

"  Mr.  Hunting  is  our  landlord,  and  when  he  saw  how  poor 
we  were,  he  gave  us  free  rent  for  some  time ;  he  bought  even 
each  of  my  boys  brushes  and  blacking,  and  gave  them  some 
money  to  peddle  newspapers.  He  recommended  me  to  his 
wife,  to  do  some  sewing;  but  there  was  no  getting  along 
with  her.  She  was  very  unreasonable,  and  often  she  let  me 
feel  my  depending  condition.  I  tried  to  bear  up  with  it  for 
some  time,  but  at  last  I  would  not  sew  for  her  any  more. 
Then  I  became  a  washwoman  for  a  family,  that  brings  me  the 
wash  to  the  house  on  Monday,  and  calls  for  it  on  Friday. 
They  pay  me  regularly,  and  with  that  money,  and  with  what 
my  boys  earn,  we  make  our  living." 

"But  don't  the  Government  pay  you  a  pension  ?"  inquired 
the  visitor. 

Mrs  Gardner  blushed,  moved  her  chair  toward  Mrs. 
Lothimore,  and  wiiispered,  ••  I  could  get  a  pension,  but  I  can 
get  along  without  it;  and  as  our  Government  is  very  much 
in  debt,  I  want  to  contribute  the  widow's  mite  toward  can- 
celing that  debt,  which  makes  the  rich  richer  and  the  poor 
poorer.  My  mother  often  scolded  me  for  not  applying  for 
the  pension,  but  I  would  not  have  it.  I  feel  for  my  country." 

"  So  you  do,"  said  Mrs.  Lothimore,  "  and  I  wish  that  our 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE. 

honorable  Senators  and  House  of  Kepresentatives  would  feel 
for  their  country  as  you  do  ;  then  our  collossal  debt  would 
melt  away  like  the  March  snow  under  the  July  sun.  But  if 
we  read  the  proceedings  of  the  United  States  Senate  and 
House  of  Eepresentatives,  we  must  come  to  the  conclusion 
that  our  Senators  and  Congressmen  no  longer  legislate  for 
the  welfare  of  their  country,  but  that  they  legislate  to  en- 
rich themselves  and  their  special  friends." 

"  Indeed  !"  Is  that  your  [candid  opinion  ?"  asked  the  sol- 
dier's widow. 

"  It  is  my  candid  opinion ;  and  I  sincerely  hope  that  I 
might  be  mistaken,"  answered  Mrs.  Lothimore. 

"  I  hope  you  are,  for  the  sake  of  our  country,  for  the  sake 
of  the  struggling  poor  and  laboring  class,"  exclaimed  the 
widow  Gardner. 

"If  that  is  true,  that  our  Senators  and  Congressmen  use  their 
exalted  position  to  enrich  themselves  and  a  few  others  only, 
at  the  expense  of  our  country,  then  my  good  father  sacri- 
ficed his  life  in  vain  ;  for  a  country  where  the  people  choose 
such  representatives  is  not  worth  defending,"  exclaimed  the 
oldest  boy,  who  had  been  attentively  listening,  his  glowing 
face  and  bright  eye  betraying  the  interest  he  felt  already 
for  his  country's  welfare. 

"Kichard!  Kichard!  will  you  stop  talking  such  words," 
admonished  the  mother.  "  You  must  excuse  him,  Mrs. 
Lothimore,  but  the  boy  is  so  forward ;  I  really  believe  that 
I  must  lock  up  Shakspeare  and  Webster,  for  the  boy  reads 
too  much.  As  soon  as  he  returns  from  his  boot-blacking 
and  newspaper  selling  business,  he  takes  a  hold  of  Shake- 
speare, and  if  he  can  not  make  out  a  word  he  refers  to 
Webster's  dictionary,  sure  to  find  the  meaning.  I  have  no 
objection  for  him  to  know  something,  but  for  my  son  to  say 
that  the  country  is  not  worth  saving,  because  there  are  some 
unworthy  men  in  the  Senate  and  Congress ! — don't  let  me 
hear  you  again  use  such  treacherous  words,"  said  the  mother. 

The  boy  blushed  and  hung  his  head,  in  confusion. 


94  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

Mrs.  Lothimore,  noticing  his  embarrassment,  kindly  spoke 
to  him :  "  So,  you  like  Shakespeare,  Master  Eichard." 

"  Very  much,"  answered  the  boy,  readily. 

""Which  of  his  productions  do  you  like  the  best,  and  what 
defects  or  faults  could  you  point  out?"  asked  Mrs.  Lothi- 
more, showing  great  interest. 

"I  like  all  his  productions,  they  are  splendid.  I  am  too 
young  and  inexperienced  yet,  to  point  out  any  defects  ;  but 
one  I  can  point  out  as  a  manifest  wrong,  namely  :  in  the 
'  Merchant  of  Venice,'  where  he  made  Shylock  represent- 
ing a  Jew,  and  by  that  he  has  stigmatized  a  whole  race.  I 
used  to  look  upon  Jews,  from  that  very  picture  of  Shylock, 
as  a  people  not  worthy  of  respect  or  confidence,  but  my  own 
observation  has  already  taught  me  that  they  are,  on  the 
average,  as  good  as  any  people.  There  is  a  man  in  this  town 
by  the  name  of  Peter  Brown,  with  whom  I  have  dealings, 
who  is  not  a  Jew,  but  who  is  every  inch  a  Shylock,  as  des- 
cribed by  Shakespeare.  This  proves  that  men  of  Shylock's 
character  can  be  found  in  every  community,  be  they  Jews 
or  Christians." 

The  mother  of  this  young  critic  looked  at  Mrs.  Ida  Lothi- 
more, as  if  to  say,  What  do  you  think!  but  Mrs.  Lothimore 
made  no  remark,  looking  with  great  interest  at  the  boy. 
She  noticed  particularly  his  well-formed  head,  his  high 
arched  brow,  and  his  large  and  brilliant  eyes.  "  That  boy," 
thought  she,  "will  make  his  mark  in  the  world,  if  he  lives 
to  be  a  man.  He  is  provided  with  the  right  weapons  to  hew 
his  way  to  an  honored  distinction,  for  those  who  have  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  Bible,  Shakespeare  and  Web- 
ster's Dictionary,  have  it  within  their  power  to  become  states- 
men, orators  and  great  authors." 

A  great  author  is  the  best  educator  of  man. 

Not  only  Mrs.  Lothimore  and  Mrs.  Gardner  had  listened 
to  Eichard's  critic  of  the  "Merchant  of  Venice,"  but  also 
grandmother  Hopewell,  who  liked  to  hear  her  grandson  give 
his  opinion,  for  he  was  just  like  his  departed  father,  of  a 
clear  and  comprehensive  mind,  always  coming  to  the  point. 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  95 

"Yes,"  said  she,  "our  Eichard  is  right;  Shakespeare  ought 
to  know  better  than  to  make  of  a  Jew  a  Shylock,  a  people? 
who  can  claim  Moses,  Joshua,  Samuel,  David,  Solomon,  and 
many  ancient  and  modern  great  men,  whose  wise  words 
have  and  still  illuminate  the  whole  civilized  world.  I  have 
just  been  reading  in  the  blessed  Bible  about  the  prophet 
Samuel  when  the  Israelites  clamored  for  a  king.  He  said  to 
them,  '  You  want  a  king,' — no,  I  can  not  relate  it.  Eichard, 
step  here  and  read  this  passage  to  Mrs.  Lothimore,  read  it 
aloud,  as  you  do  in  the  evening, when  we  are  all  together.  I 
om  sorry,  Mrs.  Lothimore,  that  you  are  going  away  so  soon, 
else  you  ought  to  spend  the  evening  with  us.  and  hear  our 
Eichard  read  Shakespeare.  He  reads  it  in  a  style  and 
manner  so  that  you  could  see  the  different  characters  pass 
right  before  you.  In  our  gloomiest  moments,  when  we  were 
cold  and  hungry,  those  books,  when  read  by  our  Eichard, 
were  our  only  comfort  and  hope.  Little  did  my  good  son- 
in-law  think  when  he  presented  us  those  books,  that  they 
would  be  our  greatest  comfort."  She  could  say  no  more, 
removed  her  spectacles,  and  wiped  off  the  tears  that  moist- 
ened her  withered  cheeks. 

Eichard  took  the  Bible  readily,  found  the  chapter,  and 
read  in  a  clear  voice : 

"And  Samuel  told  all  the  words  of  the  Lord  unto  the 
people  that  asked  of  him  a  king. 

"  And  he  said,  This  will  be  the  manner  of  the  king  that 
shall  reign  over  you.  He  will  take  your  sons;  and  appoint 
them  for  himself,  for  his  chariots,  and  to  be  his  horsemen, 
and  some  shall  run  before  his  chariots. 

"And  he  will  appoint  him  captains  over  thousands  and 
captains  over  fifties,  and  will  set  them  to  sow  his  ground 
and  to  reap  his  harvest,  and  to  make  his  instruments  of  war, 
and  instruments  of  his  chariots. 

"  And  he  will  take  your  daughters  to  be  confectionaries, 
and  to  be  cooks,  and  to  be  bakers. 

"  And  he  will  take  your  fields  and  your  vineyards,  and 


00  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

your  oliveyards,  even  the  best  of  them,  and  give  them  to  his 
servants. 

"  And  he  will  take  the  tenth  of  your  seed,  and  of  your 
vineyard,  and  give  to  his  officers,  and  to  his  servants. 

"  And  he  will  take  your  men-servants  and  your  maid- 
servants, and  your  goodliest  young  men,  and  your  asses,  and 
put  them  to  his  work.  He  will  take  the  tenth  of  your  sheep, 
and  ye  shall  be  his  servant." 

After  Eichard  had  finished  reading,  the  grandmother  ex- 
claimed : 

"  Was  not  Samuel  a  great  prophet !  The  lives  of  millions 
of  human  beings  could  have  been  saved  if  the  people  of 
Israel  had  followed  the  advice  of  Samuel,  and  appointed  no 
king. 

"  Now  look  at  David.  Are  not  his  psalms  grand  and 
elevating !  They  can  not  be  improved  ;  they  are  sung  now 
on  every  solemn  occasion,  and  Solomon's  wise  sayings  should 
be  followed  in  most  every  stage  of  our  life.  Mrs.  Lothimore, 
prolong  your  stay  in  our  city  one  day,  and  spend  this  even- 
ing with  us.  Our  Eichard  will  read  about  Solomon,  who  was 
indeed  a  wise  man ;  and  his  people  of  this  day  must  possess 
a  great  share  of  his  wisdom,  to  withstand  so  successfully  the 
abuses  which  were  heaped  on  them.  Shakspeare  ought  to 
have  spared  them,  and  created  a  Shylock  without  christian- 
izing him  a  Jew." 

Mrs.  Lothimore  looked  surprised  to  see  the  old  lady  take 
the  part  of  the  Jews  with  such  an  energy  and  earnestness. 
"Who  would  believe  it,"  run  her  thoughts,  "on  entering 
this  poorly  furnished  room,  seeing  these  poorly  clad  people 
in  their  humble  occupation — the  grandmother  too  feeble  to 
work,  but  watching  the  children — the  daughter  a  wash- 
woman and  the  boy  a  bootblack — and  yet  to  hear  such  wise 
comments  on  the  works  of  the  greatest  poet  England  ever 
produced  I " 

Mrs.  Hopewell  again  begged  her  visitor  to  spend  the  evening 
with  them,  but  Mrs.  Lothimore,  kindly  and  reluctantly,  said: 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  97 

"  I  thank  you,  Mrs.  Hopewell,  for  your  very  kind  invita- 
tion ;  but  my  arrangements  are  such  that  I  can  not  postpone 
my  traveling.  Let  me  ask  your  boy  what  he  intends  to  do 
now.  He  is  getting  too  big  and  too  smart  to  sell  newspapers. 
Have  you  thought  of  that,  Richard  ?  " 

"  I  have,  madam,"  was  the  boy's  prompt  reply. 

"And  what  are  you  intending  to  do  ?  " 

"I  intend  to  learn  some  useful  trade,  for  a  trade  well 
mastered  is  a  good  capital,"  answered  the  boy,  earnestly. 

"How  would  you  like  to  become  a  machinist?  My  sons 
have  large  machine  shops,  and  there  you  could  advance 
rapidly,  for  they  would  give  you  every  advantage,  on  my 
recommendation.' ' 

"I  thank  you,  madam,  for  your  great  kindness  ;  but  I  can 
not  leave  my  mother,  grandmother,  and  the  children,  since 
I  am  the  oldest,  and  mast  be  with  them,"  answered  Richard, 
thoughtfully. 

"  So  you  shall,  for  it  is  my  intention  that  all  of  you  shall 
move  to  the  State  of  Texas,  and  make  your  home  on  my 
plantation,  which  is  large  enough  to  hold  three  such  cities 
as  this,"  said  Mrs.  Lothimore. 

Richard  looked  up  quite  astonished  and  remarked  :  "  That 
must  be  quite  a  large  plantation." 

"  So  it  is,"  answered  Mrs.  Lothimore,  "  but  I  ask  you  now, 
if  you  will  go  there." 

"  I  will,"  answered  Richard,  "  if  mother  will." 

"I  will  if  grandmother  will  go  with  us,"  said  Mrs.  Gard- 
ner, looking  at  grandmother. 

"  My  children,  I  will  go  wherever  you  can  better  your  con- 
dition, but  when  I  am  dead,  and  you  are  able,  see  that  I  am 
brought  back  here,  to  be  buried  beside  my  good  husband," 
and  the  old  lady  began  to  weep. 

"  Grandmother,  grandmother,  do  not  weep,"  exclaimed 
Richard,  pleadingly,  "you  know  we  all  love  you  and  will 
always  do  our  best  to  make  you  feel  happy." 

The  old  lady  looked  up  in  her  tears,  placed  her  hand  upon 
the  head  of  her  devoted  grandson,  and  blessed  him. 


98  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

"Yes,  Mrs.  Hopewell,"  said  Mrs.  Lothimore,  "we  will  all 
be  so  happy  in  our  new  home.  We  will  talk  of  the  past,  and 
often  spend  our  evenings  together  and  hear  Eichard's  read- 
ing." 

"  That  would  be  nice,  and  I  know  you  would  like  it,  too," 
exclaimed  Mrs.  Hopewell. 

"  But  where  will  we  get  the  money  to  pay  the  traveling 
expenses?  I  have  saved  thirty-nine  dollars,  and  that  will 
not  be  sufficient,"  asked  Eichard,  despondently. 

"  Never  mind,  my  boy,  I  will  see  that  your  traveling  ex- 
penses are  paid.  "When  do  you  think  to  be  ready  to  start  for 
your  new  home,  Mrs.  Gardner  ?  "  inquired  Mrs.  Lothimore. 

"  Not  before  the  first  of  April,"  answered  the  widow. 

"  Then,  please,  give  me  paper,  pen  and  ink,  and  an  envel- 
ope." Eichard  soon  had  his  writing  desk  at  hand,  and  Mrs. 
Lothimore  wrote : 

"  MR.  EDWARD  HUNTING,  ESQ.  : 

"  Dear  Sir — The  bearers  of  this,  Mrs.  Gardner  and  Mrs. 
Hopewell,  were  my  former  neighbors,  when  I  too  resided  in 
your  house.  They  have  decided  to  move  to  Texas  and  make 
their  home  on  my  plantation,  where  their  sons  will  work  in 
my  sons'  machine-shops,  and,  no  doubt,  will  become  good 
machinists.  As  soon  as  they  deliver  to  you  these  lines,  please 
pay  their  passage  to  my  plantation.  Give  Mrs.  Gardner  fifty 
dollars,  and  Mrs.  Hopewell  the  same  sum,  before  they  start, 
and  charge  the  whole  to  the  interest  fund. 

"  Very  respectfully  yours,  ever  grateful, 

"!DA  LOTHIMORE." 

She  folded  the  letter,  placed  it  in  an  envelope,  and  sealed 
it.  Then,  handing  it  to  Mrs.  Gardner,  she  said :  "  There, 
Avelina,  whenever  you  are  ready  to  start,  take  this  letter  to 
Mr.  Hunting  and  he  will  give  you  tickets  which  will  convey 
you  and  your  whole  family  to  my  place,  and  now  I  must  be 
off."  Turning  to  Mrs.  Hopewell,  she  said :  "  You  have  given 
me,  this  morning,  correct  information  about  Mr.  and  Mrs. 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  99 

Hunting;  he  is  still  the  whole-soul  hearted  man,  but  some- 
what careworn,  while  Mrs.  Hunting  has  pride,  envy,  and 
idleness  clearly  stamped  in  her  features  ;  all  her  actions  have 
shown  it  so  far,  but  let  us  hope  that  she  will  become  a  better 
woman,  and  do  honor  to  her  sex." 

"  You  are  always  hopeful,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Hopewell. 

"  So  I  am,"  answered  Mrs.  Lothimore.  "  Here,  grandma, 
take  this,"  and  she  handed  her  two  twenty  dollar  bank  notes, 
"  buy  yourself  something  for  a  New  Year's  gift." 

"  Mrs.  Lothimore,  how  can  you  throw  your  money  away 
in  this  manner,  and  give  me  so  much?  I  will  not  take  it," 
remonstrated  Mrs.  Hopewell. 

"  I  can  afford  to  make  you  a  present  of  it,  in  memory  of 
days  gone  by,"  and  the  good  Mrs.  Lothimore  placed  the 
money  in  the  Bible. 

"  Thank  you,  then,  my  good  old  neighbor.  I  will  buy 
something  for  my  granddaughters,"  said  Mrs.  Hopewell,  joy* 
fully. 

"Avelina,  for  you  I  have  purchased  a  nice  sewing  ma- 
chine as  a  New  Year's  gift,  and  to-morrow  a  shoemaker  will 
call  on  you  and  take  measures  for  you,  your  mother,  and 
your  four  children,  for  shoes  and  boots.  You  need  not  pay 
him,  as  1  have  settled  with  him.  Now,  good-bye,  all  of  you, 
and  if  you  have  anything  to  communicate  to  me,  address 
Mrs.  Ida  Lothimore,  Grand  Hotel,  Paris,  France." 

"Mrs.  Lothimore,  I  should  feel  very  bad  indeed  if  you. 
were  to  leave  us  without  drinking  a  cup  of  coffee  with  us. 
Do  us  the  honor.  Quick,  Bertha ;  stir  up  the  fire  in  the 
stove;  Ei chard,'  be  bright,  and  bring  from  the  cellar  a  few 
chips  for  kindling ;  and  you,  Laura,  set  the  table ;  take  a 
clean  table  cloth,  and  our -best  cups;  Bertha,  grind  some 
coffee.  Be  quick,  children,  be  quick,"  commanded  Mrs. 
Hopewell. 

Mrs.  Lothimore  was  delighted  to  see  the  granddaughter 
Bertha,  a  girl  of  eleven,  and  her  sister,  Laura,  of  about  nine 
years,  go  to  work  to  prepare  the  coffee  and  set  the  table, 


100  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

while  Kichard,  singing  on  his  way,  went  for  the  kindling 
wood. 

"  I  hardly  can  spare  the  time,"  remarked  Mrs.  Lothimore, 
"  but  as  you  consider  it  an  honor,  and  as  I  always  wish  to 
honor  the  aged,  I  will  stay  a  little  longer.  I  am  pleased  to 
see  you  hold  your  children  to  work." 

"Yes,  Mrs.  Lothimore,  we  teach  them  how  to  be  useful,  it 
is  a  blessing  to  them,  and  a  blessing  to  us.  Bertha  will 
be  a  good  cook  ;  see  how  quick  she  is,  and  how  she  watches 
the  water  to  put  the  coffee  in  the  pot  at  the  right  time,  and 
to  see  that  it  does  not  overboil.  Good  coifee  can  be  cooked 
with  half  the  quantity  of  coffee  if  one  knows  how  to  prepare 
it.  We  poor  people  must  find  it  out,  in  order  to  save." 
•  "  And  if  the  rich  do  not  wish  to  get  poor,  they  must  also 
be  saving,"  remarked  Mrs.  Lothimore. 

Mrs.  Gardner  was  busy  pressing  a  small  piece  of  butter 
into  a  wooden  mold,  representing  a  rose.  This  done,  she 
took  from  the  large  wardrobe  a  small  box  containing  six  sil- 
ver teaspoons  and  a  beautiful  silver  butter  knife,  while 
Laura  took  a  few  china  cups  from  the  corner  of  the  ward- 
robe, which  seemed  to  contain  all  the  treasures  of  the  family. 

Bertha  poured  out  the  coffee,  the  mother  cut  very  neatly 
some  good  home-made  bread,  and  placed  some  preserved 
peaches  on  the  table,  besides  the  adorned  butter,  with  the 
silver  butter  knife,'and  napkins  as  white  as  snow;  the  little 
girls  placed  the  chairs  around  the  table,  and  Mrs.  Gardner 
invited  her  mother  and  the  guest  to  take  seats,  Mrs.  Lothi- 
more declining  to  take  the  seat  at  the  head  of  the  table,  but 
accepting  the  one  to  the  right  of  Mrs.  Hopewell. 

"  What  excellent  bread  you  have,  and  how  good  are  your 
preserved  peaches  and  your  coffee  ;  it  is  better  than  the  cof- 
fee I  drank  at  the  St.  Charles  Hotel,  in  New  Orleans,  where 
we  paid  five  dollars  a  day  for  board.  There  is  nothing  like 
good  home-cooking,"  said  Mrs.  Lothimore. 

"  Avelina  makes  very  good  bread  and  knows  how  to  pre- 
serve fruits  ;  as  for  our  coffee,  Bertha  is  very  careful  to  make 
it  good,  for  she  knows  that  her  grandmother  is  very  fond  of 


A  TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  101 

coffee.  I  never  did  eat  a  meal  in  a  hotel.  "When  I  was 
married,  and  that  is  now  about  fifty  years  ago,  in  those  days 
they  had  no  wedding  tour;  we  got  married  and  went  to 
house-keeping  at  once,  and  I  have  done  so  ever  since." 

"Things  have  changed  since  that  time  very  much,"  ob- 
served Mrs.  Lothimore. 

"So  they  have;  everybody  must  travel  nowadays  and 
make  a  show,  even  if  it  takes  the  last  dollar  to  do  it  with," 
said  Mrs.  Hopewell,  in  a  complaining  tone. 

"  Mother  is  right,"  remarked  Mrs.  Gardner.  "  Since  you 
have  moved  away  from  here,  people  got  to  be  awful  extrava- 
gant. I  really  can  not  see  where  some  of  them  get  the  money 
to  do  it  with.  Have  another  cup  of  coifee,  Mrs.  Lothimore  ?" 

"No,  I  thank  you,  your  china  cups  are  very  large,  larger 
than  I  ever  have  seen  them,"  observed  Mrs.  Lothimore. 

"  These  cups,  the  silver  spoons  and  the  silver  butter-knife, 
were  a  wedding  gift,  from  my  husband's  employers  and  his 
fellow-workmen.  He  thought  the  world  of  them,  and  so  do 
I.  If  it  had  not  been  for  the  great  kindness  of  our  land- 
lord, Mr.  Hunting,  we  would  have  been  compelled  to  sell 
them ;  it  would  have  broken  my  heart  to  do  so,  for  I  never 
will  forget  how  happy  and  proud  my  good  Kichard  felt  when 
this  gift  was  presented  to  him,  with  a  touching  speech  by 
one  of  his  colleagues,  and  how  grandly  he  responded. 

"'Avelina.'  said  he  to  me,  'I  can  not  express  to  you  how 
happy  I  feel,  and  how  proud  I  am  of  these  presents,  for  they 
convey  to  me  plainer  than  words  can  express,  that  I  have 
done  my  duty  toward  my  employer  and  fellow-workmen  ; 
always  take  good  care  of  them,  they  must  become  a  family 
heirloom.' " 

"And  so  they  should,"  said  Mrs.  Lothimore.  "God  bless 
Mr.  Hunting.  God  bless  all  those  who  are  kind  and  indulg- 
ent to  the  poor." 

Both  the  mother  and  grandmother  responded  with  a  hearty 
Amen. 

Mrs.  Lothimore  rose  from  the  table,  thanking  her  entertain- 
ers very  kindly  for  their  attention.  "  Here,  Bertha,  here 


102  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

Laura,  because  you  are  good  girls,  I  make  you  a  present  of 
this,"  presenting  each  with  a  ten-dollar  gold  piece.  "Don't 
spend  this,  but  keep  it,  and  whenever  you  see  it,  remember 
what  I  now  tell  you,  never  to  have  any  secrets  before  your 
mother.  Girls  who  wish  to  succeed  well  in  this  world  must  not 
have  any  secrets  before  their  mothers." 

"Yes,  madam,"  answered  the  little  girls,  grasping  the 
shining  gold  pieces  and  kissing  the  giver's  hand. 

Well  would  it  be  if  young  ladies  rich,  or  poor,  would  make 
a  note  of  this :  to  have  no  secrets  before  their  mothers,  then 
their  prospects  of  genuine  happiness  will  grow  brighter  as 
they  advance  in  age,  and  not  become  dim  and  dreary  through 
the  fatal  mistakes,  brought  on  by  having  had  secrets  that 
their  mothers  should  not  know. 

Mrs.  Lothimore,  kissing  the  children  and  their  parents, 
bid  them  an  affectionate  good-bye. 

"  God  bless  her  and  protect  her !  God  will  bless  and  pro- 
tect her,  because  she  blesses  and  protects  others,"  exclaimed 
Mrs.  Hopewell,  with  tearful  eyes. 

The  noble  philanthropist  went  to  her  hotel,  thanking  the 
Heavenly  Father  for  His  grace,  to  have  given  her  the  means 
and  the  wisdom  to  make  people  happy.  It  is  a  heavenly  joy, 
but  only  a  few  on  earth  try  to  seek  it.  Beaching  her  hotel, 
she  packed  her  trunk,  paid  her  bill,  and  soon  left  for  the 
depot,  where  she  took  the  cars  going  East  to  meet  her  beau- 
tiful daughter,  the  happy  young  wife  and  attentive  husband, 
on  their  bridal  tour  to  Europe.  And  while  they  travel  over 
Bea  and  land,  observing  the  wondrous  scenes,  the  reader  will 
again  enter  with  me  the  palatial  residence  of  the  good- 
hearted  Edward  Hunting. 


A  TALE   OF   HEAL   LIFE.  103 


CHAPTEE    VIII. 

A  SERVANT  in  livery  accepts  the  cards  of  the  New- Year's 
callers  and  introduces  them  in  the  parlors,  announcing  their 
names.  Miss  Agnes,  Miss  Myra  and  Miss  Blanche,  are  most 
splendidly  attired.  All  that  art  could  do  to  set  off  their 
beautiful  persons  to  the  best  advantage  has  been  done,  and 
they  looked  truly  bewitching  in  their  costly  becoming  gar- 
ments, ornamented  with  jewels  of  great  value.  There  was 
nothing  wanting  to  make  them  perfect,  but  good  health. 
The  tight  lacing,  the  tight  shoes,  the  heavy  waterfall  and  the 
want  of  physical  exercise,  had  undermined  their  health,  which, 
a  close  observer  could  readily  perceive.  Mrs.  Hunting  too  was 
in  the  parlor,  very  richly  dressed,  but  she  looked  somewhat 
pale  and  pensive.  Her  eyes  wandered  with  displeasure  upon 
the  grand  cakes;  the  one  with  the  crown  of  France  was  not 
yet  disturbed,  but  the  one  being  ornamented  with  the  image 
of  the  Prince  Imperial  of  France  was  already  attacked,  and 
one  cut  more  would  have  demolished  the  prince.  One  bottle 
of  Tokay  and  one  bottle  of  Johannisberger  wine  from  the 
Prince  of  Metternich's  estate  stood  guard.  She  was  not 
thinking  whether  the  Counts  from  Paris  had  arrived  and 
would  call  on  her.  No,  she  thought  of  Mrs.  Ida  Lothimore, 
of  her  words  and  action  ;  how  she  forced  the  ton  thousand 
dollars  on  her. 

"  Was  she  in  earnest,  or  were  her  words  spoken  to  mock 
her ;  and  that  because  she  was  now  worth  a  million  of  dollars* 
she  had  flung,  so  to  say,  the  ten  thousand  dollars  to  her  for 
a  double  purpose  :  first  to  humble  her,  and  secondly  that  if  her 
husband  needed  financial  assistance,  to  render  it  to  him  by 
this  means,  and  thus  to  repay  him  his  kindness." 

The  more  she  reasoned  and  reflected  over  the  whole  matter, 
the  more  she  became  convinced  that  Mrs.  Lothimore  entered 
her  house  fully  informed  in  regard  to  her  husband's  affairs, 


104  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

and  her  real  standing  in  society,  especially  her  hatred  and 
overbearing  manner  toward  the  poor.  Who  had  any  reasons 
to  call  her  illiberal,  unreasonable  and  oppressive? 

"Yes,"  said  she  to  herself,  "that  Mrs.  Lothimore,  before 
she  called  on  my  husband,  saw  her  former  neighbors,  who 
still  live  in  my  husband's  tenant  house,  and  there  she  no 
doubt  saw  that  seamstress  Gardner,  who  used  to  sew  for  me, 
and  whom,  because  I  envied  her  beauty  and  gracefulness,  I 
was  delighted  to  annoy  and  even  to  plague.  But  she  gave 
me  the  slip  and  I  do  not  blame  her,  for  I  made  matters  hard 
for  her.  She  had  now  a  chance  to  give  her  opinion  about 
me  to  Mrs.  Lothimore.  Yes,  there  is  no  doubt  in  my  mind, 
that  whatever  Mrs.  Lothimore  has  said  she  did  to  mock 
me,  and  well  has  she  succeeded.  But  there  is  one  good 
thing  connected  with  it;  it  saved  my  husband's  credit,  and 
with  three  marriageable  daughters  on  hand,  it  is  absolutely 
necessary  that  the  husband's  credit  and  mercantile  standing 
be  good." 

Mr.  Hunting,  too,  was  in  the  parlor,  observing  his  daugh- 
ters and  their  very  elegant  dress. 

"  Daughters,"  said  he,  "do  you  know  that  princesses  could 
not  be  dressed  any  richer  than  you  are?  It  needs  a  royal 
income  to  keep  up  this  splendor  and  style." 

"  And  are  we,  papa,  not  as  good  as  princesses  ?"  asked 
Agnes,  smilingly. 

"  No  doubt  that  you  are ;  but  I  am  no  king,  nor  have  I  a 
royal  income.  I  am  only  a  merchant,  whose  income  is  not 
fixed,  but  depends  greatly  on  chances.  I  can  not  afford  to 
dress  you  so  extravagantly ;  and  besides  that — " 

He  could  not  finish,  for  Messrs.  Overbeck  and  Fastleben 
were  announced.  Mr.  Hunting's  face  grew  dark  when  ho 
beheld  these  two  young  men.  They  were  dressed  in  the 
very  hight  of  fashion;  their  diamond  studs  and  rings  shone 
brilliantly;  their  linen  and  clothes  were  the  finest  that  the 
marts  of  the  world  produce  ;  they  seemed  to  have  come  di- 
rect from  the  barber,  and  that  useful  artist  had,  no  doubt, 
for  an  extra  quarter,  given  them  a  few  extra  touches ;  at  least 


A   TALE    OF   REAL   LIFE.  105 

so  it  appeared.  They  bowed  very  gracefully  to  Mrs.  Hunt- 
ing, and  no  less  so  to  the  young  ladies,  who  seemed  much 
pleased  at  their  call.  Myra  and  Blanche  waited  on  them 
with  cake  and  wine,  and  took  particular  pains  to  mention 
that  the  wine  they  offered  was  the  genuine  Johannisberger, 
from  the  Prince  of  Metternich's  estate. 

"No  doubt,  a  present  from  the  Prince  himself  to  the  fam- 
ily," observed  Fastleben,  with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye,  to  which 
Overbeck  responded,  "  As  a  matter  of  course." 

They  drank  to  the  health  of  Mrs.  Hunting  and  the  young 
ladies,  and  putting  the  empty  tumblers  down,  they  said : 

"  This  is  capital  wine,  the  best  we  ever  drank." 

Mr.  Hunting  noticed  all  this,  and  thought  of  his  faithful 
bookkeeper,  who  only  yesterday  made  his  remarks  in  regard 
to  the  overdrawn  salary. 

"He  is  right,"  thought  he  by  himself;  "young  men  who 
put  on  so  many  airs  as  these  two,  when  they  know,  as  well 
as  I  do,  that  the  very  shirts  that  cover  their  backs  are  not 
their  own ;  and  to  come  here  " —  he  looked  out  from  the 
window  and  noticed  a  carriage  in  front  of  his  house,  "  no, 
they  did  not  come  on  foot ;  it  would  not  be  grand  and  styl- 
ish enough  for  them ;  they  must  ride,  and  pay  ten  or  fifteen 
dollars  for  a  few  hours.  And  all  this  comes  from  money  that 
does  not  belong  to  them.  They  are  poor  debtors,  and  the 
prospects  are  that  if  I  do  not  have  a  fair  talk  with  them,  and 
make  some  new  arrangement,  the  money  they  owe  me  will 
be  lost,  and  they,  too,  will  be  lost.  I  confess  that  I  have 
been  careless,  but  I'll  strive  to  have  matters  straight  again, 
as  thej-  ought  to  be. 

Mrs.  Hunting,  approaching  her  husband,  placed  her  hand 
lightly  on  his  shoulder  and  said,  in  a  low  tone :  "  See,  Ed- 
ward, would  not  Mr.  Overbeck  and  Myra,  and  Mr.  Fastleben 
and  Blanche,  make  real  nice"  couples  ;  look  at  them  as  they 
walk  up  and  down  the  parlor,  don't  they  look  handsome?" 

"  Yery,  indeed,  in  their  fine  clothes,  which  they  will  have 
as  long  as  1  am  able  to  pay  for  them,"  answered  the  hus- 
band, meaningly. 


106  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

Mrs.  Hunting  looked  up,  saying :  "  Why,  my  dear  Ed- 
ward, you  do  not  mean  to  say  — " 

"Never  mind,  now,  interrupted  the  husband,  we  will  talk 
about  this  some  other  time." 

Miss  Agnes  stood  at  the  music-note  case,  leisurely  looking 
over  some  notes,  but  occasionally  she  threw  a  glance  at  her 
sisters  and  the  young  men.  "  I  am  not  mistaken,  both  Over- 
beck  and  Fastleben  are  fops,"  said  she  to  herself,  "  real  gen- 
tlemen have  less  jewelry  about  them,  and  place  not  so  much 
value  on  their  clothes  and  looks ;  they  have  higher  aims. 
There  is  Frank  "Wilkins,  he  does  not  wear  jewelry,  and 
though  he  dresses  very  plain,  yet  he  looks  noble,  and  he 
seems  to  be  a  man  of  great  self-command.  Nobility  is 
stamped  on  his  features.  He  did  not  call  on  us  last  year, 
and  I  wonder  whether  he  will  call  on  us  to-day.  I  have 
seen  him  only  twice  this  year;  he  was  very  polite  tome, 
though  not  friendly,  when  I  called  for  some  money  at  the 
counting-room.  I  wonder  what  could  be  the  reason,  he 
always  used  to  be  friendly  to  me;  perhaps  it  is  because  we 
draw  so  much  money,  more  than  father  could  well  spare ; 
but  it  is  not  my  fault ;  we  must  dress  well ;  it  is  the  style, 
and  one  might  as  well  not  live  than  not  to  be  in  style." 

Overbeck  and  Fastleben  hovered  around  Miss  Myra  and 
Miss  Blanche,  like  bees  around  roses.  They  talked  of  the 
fashions  and  new  styles,  of  skating  and  balls  ;  how  and  where 
they  intend  to  spend  the  coming  spring  and  summer,  whether 
at  Long  Branch,  Newport,  Saratoga,  Yellow  Springs,  or  Put- 
in-Bay. Long  Branch,  the  young  ladies  thought,  would  be 
the  most  desirable  and  fashionable.  Fastleben  opined  that 
Saratoga  was  the  most  desirable  and  fashionable  of  all  those 
places.  "  The  wealth  of  the  country,"  said  he,  "  is  repre- 
sented there."  Overbeck  smilingly  put  in,  "  "We  certainly 
must  be  there." 

Such  and  similar  was  the  conversation  between  the  young 
people,  who  reckoned  without  the  host,  and  that  host  was 
Mr.  Hunting,  who  was  determined  in  his  mind  to  make  Over- 
beck  and  Fastleben  give  a  full  account  of  their  expenses,  and 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  107 

also  to  cut  down  his  family  expenses  to  one-third  of  the 
former  years.  The  visiting  of  watering  places  was,  there- 
fore, out  of  question,  and  the  Saratoga  trunks  would  have  to 
remain  that  season,  undisturbed  in  the  store  room. 

Other  New  Year's  callers  were  announced,  among  them 
Frank  Wilkins,  Esq.  At  the  mentioning  of  his  name,  both 
Overbeck  and  Fastleben  started.  They  did  not  like  the 
bookkeeper,  for  he  knew  them  too  well,  and  was  not  afraid 
to  tell  them  his  opinion  freely,  without  reservation,  though 
with  courtesy.  Overbeck  and  Fastleben  soon  left,  and  "Wil- 
kins had  the  ground  left  all  to  himself.  Miss  Agnes  waited 
with  marked  attention  on  the  bookkeeper,  and  offered  him  a 
glass  of  wine.  It  was  the  Johannisberger,  of  the  Prince  of 
Metternich's  estate.  "Ah!"  thought  Mr.  Wilkins,  "these 
are  the  grand  cakes  and  the  costly  wines  that  took  the  last 
penny  in  the  bank  to  pay  for  it."  He  took  the  tumbler  in  his 
hand,  saying :  "  A  happy  New  Year  !  may  health,  wealth, 
and  contentment  be  the  constant  companions  of  the  family, 
and  our  house."  He  tasted  the  wine,  and  put  the  tumbler 
down,  nearly  as  full  as  when  offered.  They  all  understood 
why  he  did  not  drink,  for  he  had  signed  a  pledge  to  abstain 
entirely  from  drinking  any  beverage  whatsoever. 

Agnes  had  some  slight  recollection  of  having  heard  that 
Frank  Wilkins  had  been  once  a  confirmed  drunkard  ;  but 
that  he  took  this  pledge  and  kept  it  ever  since.  She  re- 
spected him  not  only  for  this  firm  resolve,  but  admired  also 
his  quiet,  unassuming  manners,  his  thoughtful  bearing,  and 
the  language  he  used  in  his  conversation.  He  was,  in  the 
eyes  of  Miss  Agnes,  a  model  of  a  young  man,  and  so  he 
really  was.  He  had  only  one  fault :  he  was  shy  of  women  ; 
he  was  afraid  to  trust  them  ;  they  say  one  thing  and  mean 
another;  they  are  fickle.  At  least  such  was  his  experience, 
and  he  was,  therefore,  on  his  guard,  and  well  might  he  be. 
He  involuntarily  blushed  and  become  confused  in  the  pres- 
ence of  Miss  Agnes,  whom  he  thought  to  be  not  only  very 
beautiful,  but  also  very  intelligent,  and,  above  all,  to  be  a 


103  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

thoughtful  woman  who  reasons  calmly  before  she  acts,  a 
merit  which  Mr.  Wilkins  very  much  admired  and  valued. 

"  It  is  quite  a  long  time  since  we  had  the  pleasure  of  see- 
ing you,  Mr.  Wilkins,  at  our  house,"  said  Agues,  pleas- 
antly. 

"  Nearly  two  years  since  I  had  that  pleasure  and  honor," 
answered  Mr.  Wilkins. 

"  Two  years  is  a  long  time  to  deprive  your  friends  of  the 
pleasure  of  your  visits,"  rejoined  Agnes,  suggestingly. 

Wilkins  blushed  still  more,  and  he  stammered  :  "  I  live 
very  retired ;  after  my  day's  work  is  over  I  return  to  my 
boarding  house,  where  I  pass  the  evenings  mostly  in  read- 
ing." 

"And  who  is  your  favorite  author?"  asked  Agnes,  curi- 
ously. 

"At  present  I  read  Humboldt's  Cosmos.  I  think  it  to  bo 
a  great  work,  and  it  is  quite  a  pleasure  and  gratification  to 
follow  that  great  man  in  his  arguments,"  remarked  Mr.  Wil- 
kins, earnestly. 

" Have  you  ever  read  Humboldt's  Cosmos?  If  not,  read 
it,  for  you  will  find  it  very  instructive." 

"  We  have  his  works  in  our  library,  but  none  of  us  took 
the  time  of  reading  them.  I  must  and  will  do  so  now,  on 
your  recommendation,"  said  Agnes. 

Wilkins  blushed  again,  for  he  noticed  that  the  young  lady 
pronounced  the  word  your  with  great  consideration,  even  with 
affection. 

"  Quite  an  honor  to  mo  ;  but  I  prcs-ime  you  prefer  reading 
poems.  Who,  then,  is  your  favorite  poet  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Wil- 
kins. 

Miss  Agnes  blushed.  She  hardly  read  any  works;  her 
time  passed  away  in  taking  her  lessons  on  the  piano,  in 
French,  Latin  and  drawing,  and  when  the  evening  came,  she 
was  fatigued,  not  so  much  from  her  studies,  as  from  her  tight 
lacing,  the  tight  fitting  shoes,  her  heavy  waterfall,  and  her 
want  of  bodily  exercise.  She  felt,  generally,  unwell  and  was 
glad  when  she  could  rest.  Her  sisters  felt  no  better,  and 


A   TALE   OF   REAL    LIFE.  109 

though  they  had  a  splendid  library,  containing  books  of 
the  choicest  authors,  they  never,  or  very  seldom,  touched 
them. 

Agnes  blushed,  and  so  should  every  young  lady  blush,  who 
has  the  opportunity  of  reading  good  books  and  neglects  to 
avail  herself  of  such  a  great  privilege,  for  good  books  are 
the  only  teachers  that  teach  us  without  laughing  at  our  igno- 
rance. 

"  I  am  too  busy  with  my  studies  to  read  any  works  par- 
ticularly. "When  I  get  through  with  my  lessons,  I  read  the 
daily  papers,  and  especially  those  articles  which  refer  to 
woman's  suffrage.  What  do  you  think  of  that  question,  Mr. 
"Wilkins?"  asked  Agnes,  suddenly. 

"  It  is  a  great  question,  in  which  every  male  and  female 
ought  to  interest  themselves,  for  it  concerns  the  welfare  of 
both  sexes.  Neither  of  them  can  be  benefited  without  the 
other  sharing  in  the  same  benefit.  Neither  of  them  can  be 
injured  without  the  other  sharing  in  the  injury.  There  is 
too  much  neglect,  too  much  misery,  too  much  viciousness 
existing  now,  that  we  could  claim  society,  under  the  pres- 
ent rules  and  regulations  which  fashion  dictates,  as  being 
well  organized.  Only  yesterday,  I  met  an  old  school-mate, 
who  appeared  to  be  greatly  distressed.  I  asked  him  the 
cause  of  his  seeming  unhappiness,  and  he  told  me  that  his 
wife  had  presented  him  that  morning  with  the  fifth  daugh- 
ter. I  laughed,  and  said  :  '  Well,  what  of  it?  You  have  two 
boys ! ' 

"  '  What  of  it  ? '  exclaimed  he.  '  To  have  five  daughters  in 
the  house,  oh  !  it  is  dreadful ! ' 

"  And  would  it  make  any  difference  if  you  had  five  sons 
and  two  daughters? 

"  (  Yes,'  answered  my  old  school-mate,  '  the  prospects  would 
then  be  much  better,  but  to  have  five  daughters — '  he  sighed 
deeply,  and  "scratching  his  head,  exclaimed  :  'Five  daugh- 
ters I ' 

"  I  looked  after  that  father  wistfully  and  put  myself  the 
question,  Why  should  a  father  sigh,  when  he  is  blessed  with 


110  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

a  daughter  ?  She  is  created  perfect  as  man  and  to  be  equally 
as  happy.  "Why  then  should  her  chances  for  happiness  be 
less  than  that  of  a  man  ?  Why  should  society  be  so  organ- 
ized as  to  make  a  woman  so  dependent  on  support  ?  Why 
should  woman  be  the  chosen  and  not  the  one  who  chooses  ? 
She  ought  to  have  the  same  right  to  go  forth  in  the  world 
and  embrace  a  profession  whichever  she  feels  herself  best 
adapted  to ;  and  if  she  is  ready  to  marry,  she  should  have 
the  same  privilege  as  man  to  choose  her  partner  for  life,  and 
not  be  compelled,  as  now,  through  the  false  delicacy  of  so- 
ciety, to  wait  till  some  man  comes  along  and  proposes.  What 
is  the  girl  to  do  but  to  accept.  He  is  not  exactly  her  choice ; 
she  has  her  misgivings  whether  he  will  make  a  good  hus- 
band ;  but  what  is  she  to  do?  She  knows  that  she  is  in  the 
way  at  her  home,  or  if  not  in  the  way,  her  parents  wish  to 
see  her  settled  in  life;  and  she  accepts,  thinking  she  may 
fare  worse,  or  remain  single  for  the  rest  of  her  life.  This  is 
not  only  a  mistake  of  society,  but  an  absolute  cruelty,  which 
explains  the  many  unhappy  marriages.  If  by  woman's 
suffrage  we  only  could  gain  this  point,  that  women  might 
choose  their  life-mates  as  well  as  men,  then  I  am  for  woman's 
suffrage  with  might  and  main,"  remarked  the  bookkeeper. 

"Mr.  Wilkins,"  exclaimed  Agnes,  warmly,  "you  possess 
the  qualities  of  a  great  man,  for  you  have  a  clear  head  and  a 
good  heart.  A  man,  though  with  a  clear  head,  but  without 
heart  to  feel  for  the  less  favored,  will  not  achieve  anything 
very  great.  He  must  have  both,  a  clear  head  and  a  good 
heart,  which  you  have.  Please,  proceed  in  giving  me  your 
views  on  that  great  question — woman's  suffrage." 

Wilkins  was  perplexed.  It  came  to  his  mind  that  she 
might  say  one  thing  and  mean  another,  and  wish  to  practice 
on  him  the  old  maxim,  "the  wise  flatters  the  fool,  but  the 
fool  flatters  himself."  He,  therefore,  concluded  to  evade  any 
further  questions  on  that  subject,  and  addressing  the  young 
lady,  said : 

"Indeed,  Miss  Agnes,  you  flatter  me  by  your  remarks; 
but  I  have  said  all  I  intended  and  perhaps  more  than  I  in- 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  Ill 

tended  to  say  on  that  question,  and  I  apologize  to  you  for 
having  been  so  plain." 

"But  I  venture  to  remark,"  exclaimed  Agnes,  "that  you 
have  not  spoken  enough  on  a  question  which  concerns  so 
greatly  the  welfare  of  humanity.  You  have  only  given  me 
a  glimpse  of  the  light  that  shines  within  you  on  such  an  im- 
portant matter.  You  owe  me  no  apology  of  having  spoken 
plainly;  for  that  is  just  what  I  admire.  Some  gentlemen 
have  a  way  to  clothe  their  thoughts  in  such  a  high-toned 
language  that  it  is  difficult  to  comprehend  them.  Do,  please, 
Mr.  Wilkins,  proceed,"  and  she  moved  her  chair  nearer  to 
him. 

Poor  Wilkins  wavered.  Her  appeal  was  so  sincere,  and 
beside  her  large,  beautiful,  black  and  lustrous  eyes,  with 
those  long  silken  eye-lashes,  resting  on  him  in  admiration, 
completely  upset  him.  It  put  him  off  his  guard,  and  he 
lost  his  self-command,  which  he  so  highly  valued,  and  pro- 
ceeded, so  to  say,  against  his  own  will : 

"  Miss  Agnes,  you  give  me  more  credit  than  I  am  entitled 
to,  for  I  doubt  of  having  so  much  light  on  this  great  ques- 
tion as  you  suppose.  That  much,  however,  is  sure,  that  the 
politics  of  the  whole  country  will  be  purified,  and  we  will 
have  purer  and  wiser  men  to  legislate  and  direct  our  public 
affairs  as  soon  as  women  have  the  right  to  vote." 

"How  so?"  asked  Agnes,  with  great  interest. 

"  Under  the  present  regime  a  primary  election  is  held  to 
elect  delegates  whose  duty  it  is  to  nominate  candidates  for 
the  respective  offices,  and  when  these  nominations  are  once 
made,  the  party  will  vote  for  the  nominee  whether  he  suits 
them  or  not.  Party  interest  demands  it,  only  a  few  are  in- 
pendent  and  do  not  vote  for  the  unworthy  candidate,  but  the 
independent  voters  are  so  few  that  their  lost  vote  is  hardly  felt. 
You  will  thus  perceive  that  the  election  of  delegates  is  a 
matter  of  great  importance,  and  yet  only  a  few  citizens  attend 
the  primary  meetings,  and  the  nomination  and  election  of 
delegates  are  often  influenced  by  most  unworthy  means.  In 
that  way  we  elect  men  to  high  and  responsible  positions,  who 


112  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

neither  can  be  looked  upon  as  being  able  to  fill  those  positions, 
nor  as  honest  and  truly  patriotic  citizens.  But  if  women 
once  will  be  vested  with  the  ballot,  the  primary  meetings  will 
be  attended  by  the  best  citizens  we  have,  in  order  that  the 
right  delegates  should  be  sent,  who  will  nominate  men  of 
ability,  of  known  integrity,  and  of  good  character ;  for  every 
husband  and  every  brother  will  be  liable  to  have  his  wife 
or  his  sister  elected  to  an  office,  and  they  will  see  to  it,  that  the 
men  who  are  elected  are  real  gentlemen,  so  that  their  wives 
sisters  may  have  good  and  honest  colleagues.  This  alone 
will  be  a  great  gain  to  the  country  at  large,  but  there  are  other 
great  benefits  that  will  arise  from  woman's  suffrage.  Men 
will  try  to  legislate  wise,  and  with  greater  impartiality;  for 
in  the  presence  of  women,  the  better  qualities  are  brought 
out  of  man.  He  is  more  careful  of  what  he  says  and  does ; 
besides,  woman  will  not  remain  so  inactive,  so  secluded,  and 
limited  in  her  callings;  being  equalbefore  the  law,  and  de- 
pendent on  her  own  merits,  she  will  seek  other  avenues  for 
an  honorable  living,  and  will  be  found  as  able  to  compete 
in  every  calling  that  her  physical  strength  will  permit  her  to 
follow,  with  the  sterner  sex,  and,  in;  many  instances,  will  do 
it  even  more  successfully.  Then  the  high  value,  which 
women  place  now  on  their  good  looks  will  be  curtailed;  they 
will  no  longer  depend  to  such  a  great  extent  on  beauty,  in 
order  to  secure  a  husband,  but  depend  more  on  their  good 
character  and  usefulness.  The  extravagance  of  dress  will 
greatly  decrease;  the  number  of  happy  marriages  will  in- 
crease, and  vice,  misery  and  viciousness  will  be  lessened. 
Such  a  result  all  good  men  desire,  a  result  which  sooner  or 
later  must  be  accomplished ;  whether  woman's  suffrage 
will  accomplish  this  great  aim,  is,  of  course,  a  question;  at  all 
events  it  is  worth  trying." 

Agnes  listened  attentively,  and  when  Wilkins  concluded, 
at  all  events  it  is  worth  trying,  she  said :  "  Would  to  God  that 
all  men  would  think  as  you  do ;  then  we  poor  females  would 
be  emancipated,  and  fathers  would  not  deplore  the  birth 
of  a  daughter  as  your  friend  did." 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  113 

"I  know  that  I  have  spoken  too  plain !"  exclaimed  Mr. 
Wilkins;  "do  please  excuse  me." 

"Mr.  Wilkins,  Talleyrand  once  said  that  language  was  cre- 
ated to  disguise  our  thoughts.  It  may  very  well  suit  the 
turbulent  French,  but  we  here  in  America,  who  aim  at  a 
higher  civilization,  a  civilization  not  of  deception,  but  of 
truth  and  happiness ;  so  that  God  in  heaven  and  the  good 
men  on  earth  will  love  and  admire  us;  and  in  order  to  attain 
such  elevating  civilization,  with  solid  truth  and  happiness  as 
its  foundation,  we  must  use  language  not  to  disguise  our 
thoughts,  but  to  speak  as  you  have  spoken.  I  am  grateful 
to  you.  There,  take  my  hand  for  eternal  friendship." 

Wilkins  blushed.  He  trembled,  his  heart  beat  with  unu- 
sual quickness,  but  notwithstanding  all  this  he  grasped  the 
outstretched  hand,  and  was  almost  tempted  to  cover  it  with 
kisses  that  would  have  sprung  from  his  heart  to  his  lips. 

Frank  Wilkins,  thy  days  of  bachelorship  are  numbered, 
if  thou  wilt  not  stand  better  on  thy  guard  ! 

Mrs.  Hunting  watched  Mr.  Frank  Wilkins  and  her  daugh- 
ter Agnes  in  their  animated  conversation.  She  did  not  like 
Wilkins.  "It  was  he  who  always  pointed  out  to  her  hus- 
band that  the  house  expenses  were  steadily  growing  larger ; 
larger,  in  fact,  than  the  business  could  afford  ;  but  why 
should  she  dislike  him  on  that  account?  Was  he  less  of  a 
friend  because  he  had  warned  her  husband  of  the  approach- 
ing danger!  No,  he  was  right;  men  should  live  econom- 
ically, so  that  they  may  have  ample  means  to  conduct  their 
affairs,  and  not  be  compelled,  like  my  husband  was,  to  bend 
almost  his  knees  before  that  bank  cashier,  John  James  La 
Monte,  and  to  be  refused  the  favor  after  all.  What  a  humili- 
ation for  my  good-hearted  and  noble  husband  to  ask  a  favor 
of,  and  to  be  refused  by,  Mr.  La  Monte  !  But  it  shall  never 
happen  again,  if  I  can  prevent  it."  She  approached  the 
young  couple,  and  greeting  Mr.  Wilkins,  she  pleasantly  re- 
marked, "  What  topic  is  it  you  both  seem  to  be  so  greatly 
interested  in  ?" 


114  CUE   PROSPECTS. 

"  "Woman's  suffrage,  an  important  and  great  question  for 
our  times,"  answered  the  bookkeeper. 

"  Keally,  I  am  pleased  to  find  in  you,  evidently,  a  cham- 
pion of  our  sex." 

Mr.  Wilkins  very  respectfully  bowed,  and  after  a  few  more 
remarks  on  this  subject,  finding  it  to  be  getting  late,  he  arose 
from  his  chair  to  take  leave. 

"  Mr.  Wilkins,  you  are  not  going  to  leave  us  so  soon,"  said 
Miss  Agnes. 

"I  must  be  off,  it  is  getting  late." 

"  Take  supper  with  us,  Mr.  Wilkins,"  said  Mrs.  Hunting, 
in  an  inviting  tone. 

Mr.  Wilkins  was  greatly  surprised  at  the  invitation.  Mrs. 
Hunting,  the  proud  Mrs.  Hunting,  to  invite  him,  the  poor 
bookkeeper,  to  supper,  was  something  that  he  never  ex- 
pected. He  was  about  to  decline  the  invitation  when  he 
saw  grandfather  Hunting  enter  the  parlor. 

"  There  he  is,  the  only  man,"  said  he  to  himself,  "  who 
I  know  can  help  us  in  our  trouble,  to  make  the  Eastern  bank 
account  good.  I  will  stay,  and  urge  Mr.  Hunting  to  ask  a 
loan  of  six  thousand  dollars  of  the  old  gentleman,  to  cover 
that  draft ;  and,  if  necessary,  make  the  appeal  myself,  in 
order  to  save  the  good  name  of  the  house."  This  passed 
through  his  thoughts  and  he  replied  : 

"  A  very  great  .honor,  but  I  — " 

"  Don't,  Mr.  Wilkins,  we  will  not  accept  any  excuse."  inter- 
rupted Miss  Agnes.  "  You  must  spend  the  evening  with  us, 
and  give  Ma  your  views  on  the  great  question,  woman's 
suffrage." 

Mr.  Hunting  now  joined  the  little  group,  and  asked : 
"  What  about  woman's  suffrage?" 

"Mr.  Wilkins  has  given  me  his  views  on  woman's  suf- 
frage," said  his  daughter;  "Ma  has  invited  him  to  take 
supper  with  us.  He  hesitates,  but  I  want  him  to  spend  his 
evening  with  us." 

"  I  did  not  know,  Frank,  that  you  ever  tried  to  solve  that 
great  riddle,  woman  suffrage.  Yes,  you  must  take  supper 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  115 

with  us,  and  spend  the  evening  here,"  said  Mr.  Edward 
Hunting,  in  a  kind  tone. 

Supper  being  announced,  Miss  Blanche  took  grandfather's 
arm,  Myra  that  of  her  father's,  and  Agnes  that  of  Mr.  Frank 
"Wilkins,  who  seemed  greatly  pleased  with  the  honor  of  es- 
corting the  young  lady  to  the  dining  room. 

Mrs.  Hunting  superintended  the  supper  table  in  person. 
The  chandeliers  throughout  the  rooms  were  all  lit,  and  the 
many  lights  reflected  to  a  great  advantage  the  resplendent 
toilets  of  the  young  ladies.  The  grand  mirrors,  the  rich  carpets 
and  costly  furniture,  all  combined  to  make  a  grand  effect. 

Supper  was  served  by  Augustine,  who  was  dressed  in  her 
neat  calico  dress,  with  snow-white  apron,  and  neat  collar  and 
ribbon.  Her  hair  braided  and  -gracefully  arranged,  with 
her  fresh  and  beautiful  complexion,  made  her  look  even  more 
beautiful  than  her  richly  dressed  young  mistresses.  She 
passed  around  the  tea  and  cream,  muffins,  brown,  light  and 
tender,  sweet  butter,  cold  meats,  cut  in  thin  slices,  baked 
apples,  some  preserved  fruits,  which  comprised  the  evening 
meal. 

Grandfather  Hunting  noticed  Augustine  particularly,  and 
exclaimed : 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you ;  I  did  not  think  that  you  would 
recover  so  soon.  You  must  have  had  some  extraordinary 
news  to  have  produced  such  an  effect  on  you." 

The  poor  can  not  afford  to  be  sick,  they  must  work,  and 
nature  kindly  assists  them  to  recover  their  health  quickly. 

u  Yes,"  said  Augustine,  respectfully.  "  I  was  much  fright- 
ened by  the  news,  for  my  only  brother,  who  is  a  commander 
of  a  ship,  came  near  losing  his  life  when  trying  to  save  a 
wrecked  sailor,  whom  he  found  floating  on  a  spar  in  the 
midst  of  the  ocean." 

She  wished  to  say  more  ;  but  noticing  the  displeased  looks 
of  Mrs.  Hunting,  who  ordered  her,  in  a  sharp  voice,  to  bring 
a  pitcher  of  water,  she  quickly  left  the  room  to  perform  her 
mistress'  bidding.  Mr.  Wilkins,  who  had  also  particularly 


116  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

noticed  her,  followed  her  with  admiring  eyes.  Agnes 
noticed  this  look  of  admiration. 

"  On  my  way,"  remarked  grandfather  Hunting,  "  I  met  a 
bright  looking  newspaper  boy  who  offered  me  the  evening 
papers  with,  '  Here,  sir,  is  the  latest  edition  ;  all  about  the 
great  storm  at  sea ;  hundreds  of  ships  lost,  great  loss  of  life, 
and  of  property!  have  a  copy,  only  five  cents.  It  is  the 
latest  edition,  only  five  cents!'  Are  you  sure  that  it  is  the 
latest  edition?  asked  I.  'Yes,  sir,  when  Richard  Gardner 
says  anything  it  must  be  true  !'  I  merely  relate  this  to  show 
how  enterprising  and  manly  some  of  our  newsboys  are." 

"Father,  you,  know  the  mother  of  that  boy,"  said  Mr. 
Hunting. 

"  You  must  be  mistaken,  Edward." 

"  I  am  not  mistaken  ;  you  will,  no  doubt,  recollect  several 
years  ago,  when  you  and  I  were  out  to  find  real  and  worthy 
poor,  we  met  a  widow  by  the  name  of  Mrs.  Gardner,  with 
four  children  and  an  old  mother  to  support.  I  made  her  a 
present  of  a  few  months'  rent,  and  gave  the  boys  some 
money  to  buy  newspapers  and  provided  them  with  brush 
and  blacking,  to  go  out  and  try  to  earn  something,  and  I 
have  no  doubt  that  the  very  boy  you  met  is  the  son  of  widow 
Gardner." 

" Now  I  recollect,"  exclaimed  the  grandfather,  "the  boy 
looks  very  bright  and  promising." 

"  The  whole  family  gets  along  well,  now.  Their  prospects 
have  greatly  improved,  owing  to  a  singular  incident.  Be- 
fore the  husband  and  father  went  into  the  army,  he  pre- 
sented his  wife  and  mother  with  Shakspeare's  works,  Web- 
ster's dictionary  and  a  Bible,  which  the  boy  reads  aloud 
to  the  family  in  the  evenings.  This  makes  them  more  intel- 
ligent, and  they  consequently  get  along  better  in  the  world," 
said  Mr.  Hunting,  earnestly. 

"  The  boy  reads  splendidly,"  remarked  Mr.  "Wilkins.  "  I 
had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  him  read  when  I  called  there 
to  collect  the  rent.  I  doubt  whether  there  is  another  boy 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  117 

in  the  whole  State  who  can  read  so  beautifully  as  that  very 
bootblack  and  newsboy." 

"  Mr.  "VVilkins,  are  you  not  too  enthusiastic  about  that 
boy's  reading?"  inquired  Mrs.  Hunting. 

"  Very  likely  not,"  observed  the  grandfather ;  "  poor  boys 
are  more  painstaking  than  rich  boys.  You  have  Shaks- 
peare's  works  complete,  in  two  volumes,  in  your  library ;  I 
have  seen  your  Charles  with  the  book  in  his  hands,  not  read- 
ing, but  merely  looking  at  the  engravings;  and  thousands  of 
others  do  the  same.  They  read,  perhaps,  a  few  pages,  and 
then  they  are  done  with  the  great  Shakspeare.  But  it  is 
not  so  with  that  boy  ;  he  reads  as  often  as  he  has  time,  and 
no  doubt  the  mother  and  grandmother  encourage  him,  and 
thus,  through  constant  practice  and  good  mother-wit,  he  has 
become  an  excellent  reader." 

Mrs.  Hunting  listened  carefully  to  what  the  grandfather 
said.  She  was  angry  because  Mrs.  Gardner's  son,  a  boot- 
black and  a  newsboy,  should  be  praised,  in  her  presence,  as 
being  a  better  Shakspeare  reader,  and  knowing  more  about 
that  great  author,  than  her  son  Charles.  Still,  she  could  not 
deny  that  such  was  the  fact.  Charles  did  not  read  any  books, 
he  had  something  else  to  do. 

"What  that  something  else  was,  we  shall  state  in  one  of  the 
following  chapters. 

"Speaking  about  poor  people,"  said  Mr.  Edward  Hunting, 
"you  will  perhaps  remember,  father,  a  good  many  years  ago, 
a  certain  Mrs.  Ida  Lothimore,  one  of  my  tenants,  who  had  lost 
her  husband  at  a  boiler  explosion  in  his  factory.  She  owed 
me  the  rent  for  several  months,  but  I  made  her  a  present 
of  it,  and  gave  her  permission  to  live  in  the  house  with- 
out paying  any  rent  until  she  were  able  to  do  so ;  and  be- 
sides, I  gave  her  two  twenty-dollar  bills  to  start  herself  in 
some  business." 

"  Yes,  Edward,  I  remember  the  case.  I  thought  that  you 
were  then  a  little  too  liberal." 

"  The  money  I  gave  to  that  widow,"  continued  the  son, 


118  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

"  enabled  her  to  move,  with  her  little  ones,  to  the  State  of 
Texas,  where  she  had  an  only  brother,  very  wealthy,  unmar- 
ried, but  wedded  to  the  cup.  He  seemed  to  have  a  great 
dislike  to  women,  and,  no  doubt  being  a  disappointed  lover, 
he  drank  to  drown  his  disappointments,  and  would  not,  at 
first  receive  his  sister;  but,  for  her  children's  sake,  he  al- 
lowed her  to  settle  on  his  plantation.  She  watched  over  his 
welfare,  succeeded  in  making  him  abjure  liquors,  and  finally 
he  became  again  a  useful  man.  He  assisted  her  in  educat- 
ing the  children,  and  died  a  short  time  ago,  leaving  his  vast 
estate  to  his  sister  and  her  children.  To-day  this  very  Mrs. 
Lothimore  called  on  me  to  thank  me  for  my  kindness  to  her 
in  her  hours  of  need,  and  informed  me  of  her  great  prosper- 
ity. She  is  now  worth  a  million,  and  has  deposited  with  me 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  be  used  for  charitable  pur- 
poses." 

At  the  words,  "  deposited  with  me  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars,"  Wilkins  dropped  his  fork  and  knife,  and  looked 
with  amazement  at  Mr.  Hunting,  exclajming,  "  One  hundred 
thousand  dollars  did  you  say,  Mr.  Hunting?" 

"  Yes,  Frank,  one  hundred  thousand  dollars !  That  once 
poor  and  almost  forsaken  Mrs.  Ida  Lothimore  left  with  me, 
for  the  purpose  of  loaning  to  worthy  young  mechanics  and 
worthy  young  merchants,  who  wish  to  start  for  themselves 
in  business,  sums  not  exceeding  five  thousand  dollars,  on 
approved  paper,  bearing  four  per  cent,  interest,  said  interest 
to  be  paid  quarterly,  and  as  soon  as  collected  to  be  distributed 
among  widows,  who,  if  they  have  children  under  age,  are  in 
duty  bound  to  have  them  learn  trades." 

"  That  is  what  we  may  call  charity  on  a  grand  scale !"  said 
the  grandfather,  enthusiastically.  "Is  she  in  town?  I  would 
like  to  go  and  see  her." 

"No,"  answered  Mr.  Hunting  ;  "  she  left  this  evening  for 
New  York,  to  meet  her  daughter  and  rich  son-in-law,  and  is 
to  accompany  them  to  Europe  on  their  bridal  tour." 

"  That  is  the  way  of  this  world  ;  those  who  were  once 
poor  get  rich,  and  those  who  were  rich  become  often  poor,  if 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  119 

they  are  not  careful  as  regards  their  expenses,"  remarked 
grandfather  Hunting,  looking  at  his  daughter-in-law,  who 
felt  the  well- merited  hint. 

She  blushed,  and  said :  "  Grandpa,  have  another  cup  of 
tea  ?  " 

"  No,  I  thank  you  ;  I  am  not  done  with  the  first  cup. 
Blanche,  please  go  in  the  hall ;  you  will  find  on  the  hat- 
rack  my  overcoat,  and  in  my  overcoat  pocket  you  will  find 
the  evening  paper  I  bought.  I  want  to  read  about  that 
great  storm  on  the  sea,  whether  it  was  on  the  Atlantic  or 
Pacific  ocean.  You  will  please  excuse  me  if  I  read  the  paper 
at  my  meal,  but  I  have  lost  nearly  all  my  teeth,  and  have, 
therefore,  to  eat  slowly,  and  I  generally  read  while  eating  to 
wile  away  the  time." 

Miss  Blanche  brought  the  paper  and  resumed  her  seat, 
while  Agnes  passed  around  the  baked  apples. 

"  Take  this,  Mr.  Wilkins ;  it  is  the  nicest,"  pointing  out 
the  best  of  the  lot. 

"With  some,  such  little  attention  would  be  a  small  matter, 
but  with  a  young  man  like  Mr.  Wilkins,  who  for  eight  years 
kept  himself  aloof  from  female  society,  it  had  a  great  effect. 
He  blushed,  and  stammered :  "  Very  kind — thank  you." 

Augustine  entered  the  room,  bringing  water,  and  poured 
some  in  each  tumbler. 

"Merciful  God!  what  do  I  see!"  exclaimed  the  grand- 
father, and  he  commenced  to  read,  from  the  evening  paper : 

"  (  An  unusually  severe  storm  has  swept  over  the  Pacific 
ocean.  Hundreds  of  vessels  were  wrecked  and  disabled, 
among  which  we  notice  The  Monarch  of  the  Sea,  owned  by 
citizens  of  our  city,  and  commanded  by  Captain  Augustus 
Hunting,  a  son  of  one  of  our  most  esteemed  old  citizens. 
All  on  board  were  lost,  except  one  sailor  and  the  captain, 
who  clung  to  a  spar  to  keep  themselves  afloat.  The  sailor 
was  picked  up  and  brought  to  San  Francisco.  He  furnished 
us  with  the  particulars.  Nothing  has  been  heard  as  yet 


120  CUE  PROSPECTS. 

from  Captain  Hunting,  who,  we  hope,  is  also  safe,  and  in 
good  hands. ' " 

The  paper  fell  from  the  hands  of  the  good  old  man,  and 
he  bowed  his  head  mournfully  to  his  breast.  The  father 
wept  in  silence,  and  the  mother  wrung  her  hands  and 
moaned  : 

"  My  son  !  my  poor  son  !  My  noble  Augustus !  will  I 
ever  see  him  again  !  " 

The  sisters,  too,  clamored,  and  called  loudly  out :  "  Our 
good  broth erl  will  we  ever  see  him  and  embrace  him 
again  !  " 

"  You  will ! "  exclaimed  Augustipe,  in  a  clear  voice. 
"  Your  son  Augustus  has  been  saved  by  my  brother  Karl." 

All  looked  up  at  the  noble  girl,  when  she  continued  : 

"  The  man  whom  my  brother  rescued,  at  the  risk  of  his 
own  life,  from  a  watery  grave,  is  no  doubt  your  son  Augus- 
tus ! " 

"Child,"  ejaculated  the  grandfather,  "let  me  see  your  let- 
ter, or  that  part  of  it  which  refers  to  the  storm,"  and  he 
stretched  forth  his  hands  to  receive  it. 

"  My  letter  is  written  in  German,  but  I  will  translate  it," 
said  Augustine,  turning  toward  the  kitchen. 

Mr.  Hunting  noticed  her  movement,  and  said : 

"  Come  with  us  to  the  library ;  I  will  furnish  you  with 
writing  material." 

They  all  left  the  table  and  repaired  to  the  library.  Wilkins 
was  swept  along  to  the  library  without  even  knowing  it. 
The  kind  attention  and  gracious  manner  of  Miss  Agnes,  the 
invitation  by  the  proud  Mrs.  Hunting  to  supper,  the  news 
that  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  had  been  deposited  that 
day  with  his  employer,  now  the  news  of  Captain  Augustus 
Hunting  being  saved  by  the  timely  assistance  of  the  brother 
of  the  servant  of  the  house — all  this  bewildered  him,  and  he 
found  himself,  with  all  of  the  family,  in  the  library. 

Augustine   translated  quickly  that  part  of  the  precious 


A   TALE   OP   REAL    LIFE.  121 

letter  which  referred  to  the  incident,  of  so  vital  importance 
and  so  much  interest  to  the  family,  and  read: 

"My  cruisings  have  mostly  been  without  much  personal 
danger,  except  a  week  ago,  when  an  unexpected  storm  sud- 
denly set  upon  us.  Nothing  but  the  skillful  management  of 
our  strong  and  noble  vessel  saved  us  from  a  watery  grave. 
I  felt  that  many  a  stout  vessel  and  crew  must  have  perished 
in  that  dark  and  gloomy  night,  and  the  next  morning  I  kept 
a  sharp  lookout  for  any  signs  of  wrecked  vessels.  Suddenly 
I  espied  a  dark  object,  tossed  hither  and  thither  by  the  still 
high-going  sea.  I  directed  my  vessel  toward  it,  and  saw  a 
man  faintly  clinging  to  a  spar.  He  was  utterly  exhausted. 
I  gave  order  to  lower  a  boat,  but  before  this  could  bo  done  a 
high  wave  swamped  the  man,  who.  letting  go  his  hold,  dis- 
appeared in  the  dark  waters. 

" '  None  shall  perish  when  Augustine's  brother  is  near/ 
and  with  these  words  and  her  name  on  my  lips  I  leaped  from 
my  vessel  to  save  the  drowning  man.  As  he  arose  again  I 
grasped  him,  and  kept  him  above  the  water  until  the  boat 
was  lowered,  and  reaching  us,  took  us,  though  utterly  ex- 
hausted, safely  to  the  vessel.  The  man  had  fainted.  After 
applying  some  restoratives,  animation  returned.  Ho 
opened  his  eyes,  and  looking  wildly  around,  as  if  to  say, 
'Where  am  I?'  he  fainted  again.  He  now  lies  prostrated 
with  brain  fever  in  my  cabin.  All  attention  and  care  is 
shown  to  him,  and  there  is  some  hope  of  his  recovery.  To 
judge  from  his  appearance  and  some  papers,  I  think  him  to 

be  an  American.  His  name  is  Augustus ,  as  we  found  a 

letter  addressed  to  him  under  that  name — the  latter  part 
being  blotted  out." 

She  had  hardly  concluded,  when  the  grandfather  stepped 
to  her,  and  laying  his  hand  on  her  head,  blessed  her  and 
kissed  her  brow.  "  You  must  be  a  noble  daughter,"  said  he, 
"  to  inspire  a  brother  to  do  such  noble  deeds ;  whenever  you 


122  CUE  PROSPECTS. 

are  in  need  of  a  friend  call  on  Zadock  Hunting,  and  he  will 
gladly  be  at  your  service." 

"  Thank  you,"  exclaimed  Augustine,  blushing  at  the  action 
and  words  of  the  noble  old  man. 

"Here,  Augustine,  take  this  diamond-cluster  ring  as  a 
present  of  me,  in  memory  of  this  evening,  when  your  in- 
formation saved  us  all  from  the  most  cruel  apprehension," 
exclaimed  Mrs.  Hunting. 

"  I  thank  you,  madam,  for  your  kindness,  but  I  never  wear 
jewels,"  answered  Augustine,  modestly. 

Mrs.  Hunting  felt  humiliated  at  the  refusal,  and  said  to 
herself:  "  Once  in  my  life  1  wished  to  give  something,  but  I 
was  refused." 

All  were  astonished  to  see  Augustine  refuse  such  a  splendid 
and  costly  ring,  and  at  the  way  and  manner  of  thanking  her 
mistress. 

"  A  good  reason  why  she  don't  wear  jewels  is,  because  she 
is  a  jewel  herself,"  thought  Mr.  Frank  Wilkins,  as  his  eyes 
rested  on  the  tall  and  graceful  form,  with  a  face  beaming 
with  health,  intelligence  and  cheerfulness. 

The  grandfather  looked  with  admiration  and  pride  at 
Augustine,  and  said  to  his  daughter-in-law  :  "  Kate,  if  you 
want  to  do  something  for  the  girl,  then  give  her  a  better 
room  and  a  better  bed  than  she  now  has,  that  would  be  a  real 
benefit  for  her  at  present." 

"  Yes,  grandpa,  Augustine  shall  have  as  good  a  room  and 
bed  as  any  of  my  daughters ;  come,  Augustine,  I  will  show 
you  your  new  room." 

They  all  left  the  library,  except  Mr.  Hunting  and  his 
father.  Mrs.  Hunting,  Blanche  and  Augustine,  went  to  the 
new  room.  Miss  Agnes,  Miss  Myra  and  Mr.  Wilkins,  re- 
turned to  the  parlors. 

Myra  opened  the  grand  octavo  piano,  played  the  "  Star 
Spangled  Banner  "  with  great  effect  and  execution,  and  re- 
ceived the  applause  of  her  sister  and  Mr.  Wilkins. 

"  Come,  Agnes,  play  'The  Last  Eose  of  Summer,'  you  play 
that  piece  so  nice ;  do,  please,  Agnes,"  begged  Myra. 


A   TALE   OF   REAL    LIFE.  123 

"I do  not  feel  like  playing,  after  having  heard  such  bad 
news  about  poor  brother  Augustus,"  said  Agnes. 

"Augustus  is  all  right  by  this  time,"  answered  Myra; 
"  come,  play." 

"Miss  Agnes-,  please  play  a  piece;  I  am  very  fond  of 
music ;  music  is  the  language  of  the  heart,"  said  Mr.  Wil- 
kins,  sentimentally. 

Miss  Agnes  commenced  to  play.  At  the  first  touch  of  the 
instrument,  Mr.  Wilkins  perceived  that  the  young  lady  was 
an  artist  of  great  merit;  she  played  the  opera  "  Martha,"  as 
he  never  heard  before.  "When  she  had  finished,  he  exclaimed  : 
"  You  have  played  that  opera  better  than  Gottschalk,  or  Thal- 
.berg,  whom  I  have  heard  playing  that  very  same  soul-inspir- 
ing piece.  I  am  proud  that  we  have  so  great  a  native  talent 
in  our  city,  and  that  you,  Miss  Agnes,  are  entitled  to  such 
distinction." 

"  You  do  me  great  honor  by  comparing  my  playing  to  that 
of  Gottschalk  and  Thalberg;  it  will  require  a  good  deal  of 
practice  before  my  playing  can  be  compared  with  those  great 
masters.  Do  you  play,  Mr.  Wilkins?"  observed  Miss 
Agnes. 

"  My  ear  might  have  deceived  me,  but  I  believe  that  you 
play  fully  as  well  as  those  great  artists.  I  play  only  on  the 
guitar,"  answered  Mr.  Wilkins. 

"Do  you  !"  exclaimed  both  the  sisters,  joyfully.  "There 
is  brother  Charles'  guitar  which  pa  presented  him  ;  he  took  a 
few  lessons,  then  got  tired  of  it,"  remarked  Agnes,  bringing 
the  guitar.  "  Please,  Mr.  Wilkins,  play  a  piece,  I  think  the 
guitar  to  be  such  a  splendid  instrument,  especially  if  one  can 
sing  and  accompany  the  song  with  the  sweet  strains  of 
music." 

Mr.  Wilkins  readily  took  the  guitar,  tuned  it,  and  com- 
menced to  sing  and  play,  in  a  rich  tenor  voice,  that  splendid 
song; 


124  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

"THOU  ART  so  NEAR,  AND  YET  so  FAR! 

"  I  know  an  eye  so  softly  bright, 
That  glistens  like  a  star  of  night; 
My  soul  it  draws,  with  glances  kind, 
To  Heaven's  blue  vault,  and  there  I  find 
Another  star  as  pure  and  clear 
As  that  which  mildly  sparkles  here. 

Beloved  eye,  beloved  star, 

Thou  art  so  near,  and  yet  so  far  I 

Beloved  eye,  beloved  star, 

Thou  art  so  near,  and  yet  so  far! 

"That  eye  so  soft,  like  violets  blue, 
A  treasure  bears  of  morning  dew; 
And  when  its  light  entranced  I  see, 
"What  joy,  what  pain  possesses  me  ? 
A  world,  where  I  would  gladly  dwell, 
Is  that  bright  orb  I  love  so  well. 

Beloved  eye,  beloved  star, 

Thou  art  so  near,  and  yet  so  far  I 

Beloved  eye,  beloved  star, 

Thou  art  so  near,  and  yet  so  far ! 

"If  closed  at  last  that  radiant  eye  should  be, 
No  more  the  day  will  dawn  for  me ; 
If  night  should  dim  its  laughing  light, 
Oh!  then,  for  ever,  ever  'twill  be  night! 
Those  eyes  that  brightly,  softly  shine, 
For  me  the  Sun  and  Moon  combine. 

Beloved  eye,  beloved  star, 

Thou  art  so  near,  and  yet  so  far ! 

Beloved  eye,  beloved  star, 

Thou  art  so  near,  and  yet  so  far !  " 

Never  were  the  parlors  of  the  Huntings  filled  with  such 
beautiful  music  and  song  as  that  evening,  Avhen  Frank  Wil- 
kins  sang  his  "  Thou  art  so  near,  and  yet  so  far."  Mrs.  Hunt- 
ing and  Blanche  hastened  quickly  to  the  parlors,  but  only  to 
listen  to  the  last  strain  of  that  truly  splendid  composition. 

"Bravo!  bravo!"  exclaimed  the  ladies.  "You  sing  and 
play  beautifully." 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  125 

11 1  heard  only  a  part  of  it,"  said  Miss  Blanche.  "Please 
sing  and  play  it  again,  Mr.  Wilkins." 

"  I  will,  on  condition  that  you,  too,  will  sing  and  play," 
answered  Wilkins. 

"Agreed ;  we  will  then  sing  a  duet." 

Mr.  "Wilkins  repeated  the  piece,  and  sang  even  better  than 
before,  and  none  admired  him  more  than  Miss  Agnes.  The 
mother  observed  this,  and  thought  by  herself,  that  they 
would  make  a  pretty  couple.  But  had  she  given  her 
daughter  such  a  classical  education  and  refinement  of  man- 
ners only  to  marry  a  poor  bookkeeper?  No,  there  was 
something  better  in  store  for  her. 

The  ladies  again  applauded,  and  Blanche  took  the  note- 
case, selecting  "  Kobert  le  Diable." 

She  took  her  seat  at  the  piano.  Agnes  and  Myra  invited 
Mr.  Wilkins  to  accompany  them,  which  invitation  he  grace- 
fully accepted.  Blanche  played  well,  and  the  singing  was 
splendid,  especially  that  part  of  the  opera  where  Isabella 
says: 

"All  the  vows  made  to  me. 
Yet  once  thou  bent  before  me, 
And  now  I  kneel  to  thee. 
Pardon!  pardon! 
No  pardon  for  me. 
Let  thy  pity  now  awaken, 
For  my  heart  is  breaking. 
Oh  see  my  despair!  oh  see  my  despair!" 

"Sublime!  sublime!"  exclaimed  the  mother.  "Still  I  do 
not  like  to  hear  that  piece;  it  makes  me  feel  so  sad;  a 
woman  ought  never  to  be  so  suppliant.  What  do  you  think 
of  it,  Mr.  Wilkins?" 

"It  is  grand,  I  think.  Meyerbeer  has,  by  this  one  opera, 
made  his  name  immortal." 

"  I  do  not  mean  the  opera.  1  referred  to  the  supplication 
of  the  woman  represented  in  that  piece." 

"  That  is  natural,  and  whatever  is  natural  is  proper." 

"You  do  not  comprehend  me.  I  mean  whether  you  think 
it  womanly  for  a  woman  to  throw  herself  on  her  knees  and 


126  OTTK   PROSPECTS. 

implore  love  and  pardon?"  asked  Mrs.  Hunting,  somewhat 
confused  herself  at  this  rather  novel  question. 

"  It  is  womanly  for  a  woman  to  supplicate  as  it  is  manly 
for  a  man  to  supplicate,"  answered  Wilkins,  readily. 

"  I  see,"  observed  Mrs.  Hunting,  "  that  you  are  in  favor 
of  placing  woman  on  the  same  social  standing  with  man,  no 
more  and  no  less." 

"  Exactly  so,"  remarked  "Wilkins. 

"  Blanche,  please  take  these  keys  and  go  in  the  dining- 
room  ;  open  the  side-board,  where  you  will  find  some  Malaga 
grapes.  Take  some  to  grandpa  and  papa,  and  you,  Myra, 
please  go  in  my  room  and  prepare  iny  writing  materials,  as 
I  wish  to  write  some  letters  to-night." 

Both  the  young  ladies  made  their  courtesy  to  the  visitor, 
and  left  to  fulfill  their  mother's  wishes.  Miss  Agnes  ar- 
ranged the  notes,  while  Mrs.  Hunting  addressed  Mr.  Wilkins : 

"  If  woman  will  be  placed  on  the  same  social  standing  Avith 
man,  what,  in  your  opinion,  will  be  the  benefits  to  society, 
and  who  will  be  most  benefited,  man  or  woman  ?" 

"  The  benefits  to  society  will  be  incalculable  by  having 
woman  vested  with  sovereignty,  for  then  the  whole  people, 
both  sexes,  will,  for  the  first  time  in  history,  rule,  and  we 
need  the  combined  wisdom  of  men  and  women  to  legislate 
and  deliberate,  so  as  to  avoid  war,  that  demon  of  liberty  and 
prosperity.  War,  the  parent  of  tyranny  and  endless  misery, 
will  involve  a  nation  in  oppressive  debts,  under  which  we 
have  to  labor  for  ages. 

"  When  the  whole  people  will  be  represented  by  the  wisest 
and  best,  then  dynasties  will  be  swept  away  as  if  by  a  vol- 
cano. There  will  be  no  favorite  families ;  there  will  be  no 
standing  armies  ;  there  will  be  no  legislating  to  enrich  a  few 
at  the  expense  of  the  many;  there  will  be  less  discontent- 
ment, and  consequently  less  chance  of  war ;  the  avenues  of 
peace  will  be  enlarged  as  they  never  were  enlarged  before." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  the  enlargement  of  the  avenues  of 
peace?"  asked  Mrs.  Hunting,  eagerly. 

"  I  mean  '  Free  Trade,1  to  buy  in  the  cheapest  market  and 


A  TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  127 

sell  in  the  dearest;  by  increasing  the  number  of  canals  to 
the  lakes  and  sea  borders ;  by  improving  all  our  navigable 
rivers,  and  by  legislating  wisely  in  regard  to  passengers 
and  freight  transport,  by  rail  and  water. 

"  This  will  make  farming  the  most  profitable  and  honor- 
able calling,  and  we  will  have  fewer  large  cities,  but  more 
prosperous  and  picturesque  villages,  less  dusty  hills  and  un- 
cultivated fields." 

"  And  do  you  really  expect  such  great  results  from  woman's 
suffrage?"  asked  Mrs.  Hunting,  in  a  doubtful  tone. 

"Most  surely;  if  not  at  once,  but  gradually.  Woman, 
being  equal  before  the  law,  will  step  forth  from  her  baneful 
seclusion,  and  gradually  we  will  find  the  places  now  occupied 
by  the  sterner  sex  filled  by  women.  What  are  those  men 
then  to  do  who  lost  their  occupations,  but  to  turn  their  atten- 
tion to  agriculture  and  to  develop  the  mineral  wealth  of  our 
great  country.  They  will  soon  perceive  that  the  successful 
farming  depends  on  easy  and  cheap  communication,  by  water 
or  rail,  with  the  marts  of  the  world ;  and  when  it  will  be- 
come apparent  that  it  is  necessary  to  the  welfare  of  farming, 
it  will  be  done.  Successful  farming  makes  e*very  other  call- 
ing prosperous,"  rejoined  Mr.  Wilkins,  energetically. 

Blanche  entered  the  parlor,  saying,  "  Ma,  pa  wishes  to  see 
you,  if  you  can  make  it  convenient." 

"  You  will  excuse  me,  Mr.  Wilkins,"  said  Mrs.  Hunting. 

"Certainly,  madam,"  answered  Mr.  Wilkins  ;  "I  must  go 
now,  it  is  getting  late,"  and  he  bid  the  ladies  good  evening, 
who  accompanied  him  to  the  door,  especially  Agnes,  who 
invited  him  very  kindly  to  call  soon  again. 

"Charming,  very  /"  exclaimed  Mr.  Wilkins,  when  he  reached 
the  street,  "  is  Miss  Agnes.  I  almost  fell  in  love  with  her  ; 
such  eyes  and  such  splendid  bearing,  and  her  playing;  it 
was  enough  to  turn  my  head  and  to  love  again  as  I  once 
loved.  But  I  am  now  eight  years  older,  not  so  hasty;  it 
would  be  folly  for  me,  a  bookkeeper,  to  love  that  young  lady, 
court  and  marry  her.  I  judge  from  her  action  that  she 
would  not  object  to  become  Mrs.  Wilkins,  but  what  has 


128  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

Frank  "Wilkins  to  do  with  a  wife,  who  is  raised  and  brought 
up  as  Miss  Agnes  Hunting?  My  salary  of  two  thousand 
dollars  would  not  be  sufficient  to  pay  for  the  wardrobe  she  is 
used  to  wear.  I  admit  that  for  my  sake  she  would  be  willing 
to  dress  plainer,  but  would  she  be  Willing  to  live  in  such  a 
small  cottage  as  my  earnings  will  only  allow  me  to  provide? 
And  suppose  her  love  for  me  would  even  sacrifice  all  this,  for 
a  sacrifice  I  must  consider  it,  will  she  be  a  helpmate?  Will 
she  be  able  to  do  the  duties  of  a  wife,  cook  my  meals  and 
attend  to  my  home  comfort?  No,  even  if  she  has  the  will 
to  do  it,  she  is  unable  to  do  so.  She  was  not  educated  to  be- 
come a  wife,  that  is,  a  helpmate  ;  she  is  educated  to  fill  the 
station  of  a  grand  lady,  to  be  a  grand  lady,  and,  therefore, 
she  must  marry  a  grand  husband  who  has  a  grand  in- 
come. Then  only  the  prospects  are  that  she  would  be  happy 
and  make  a  husband  happy.  But  as  my  income  is  not 
grand,  I  can  not  support  a  grand  establishment,  for  which 
Miss  Agnes  has  been  reared  from  her  childhood.  Agnes, 
whatever  sparks  thy  flashing  eyes  have  thrown  into  my 
heart,  they  must  be  quenched  at  once ;  there  is  nothing  like 
reflecting  and  reasoning  calmly,"  soliloquized  Mr.  Frank 
Wilkins,  when  he  reached  his  bachelor's  room. 


CHAPTEE    IX. 

"  MY  son,"  said  the  grandfather,  "  when  I  was  here  yester- 
day, I  told  you  that  I  would  call  on  you  this  evening.  I  have 
much  on  my  mind  to  tell  you,  and  I  am  glad  that  I  have  now 
an  opportunity.  Listen  carefully,  for  my  words  concern  the 
welfare  of  the  whole  family." 

"I  am  all  attention,  father,"  answered  Mr.  Edward  Hunt- 
ing, respectfully. 

"You  will,  no  doubt,  recollect  your  boyhood's  days,  when 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  129 

your  good  mother  lived,  and  attended  to  our  wants ;  our  neat 
rooms,  plainly  furnished,  and  ornamented  with  natural 
flowers,  tenderly  eared  for  by  your  sisters  and  yourself;  our 
plain,  but  well-prepared  meals,  prepared  by  your  kind 
mother  and  sisters — and  how  good  they  tasted,  and  how 
happy  the  days  passed,  each  busy  with  our  occupations. 
There  was  no  trying  to  outshine  and  to  outstrip  any  one  on 
our  part.  We  lived  and  worked,  our  only  aim  being  to  do 
our  duty  toward  God,  ourselves,  and  our  neighbors.  God 
blessed  us  with  health  and  prosperity.  Our  fellow-men 
respected  and  trusted  us,  and  we  enjoyed  everything  that 
makes  life  happy.  Your  mother,  whose  spirit  now  rests  in 
peace,  has  had  the  joy  to  see  her  daughters  all  married  to 
worthy  men,  and  you  settled  and  well  established  in  life. 
All  went  well  as  long  as  we  lived  like  good,  plain  American 
citizens ;  but  when  fashions  crept  in  among  us,  and  a  man 
had  to  live  in  a  house  like  a  castle;  when  he  had  to  have  fast 
horses,  and  servants  dressed  in  livery ;  when  the  wives  and 
daughters  had  to  dress  like  duchesses  and  princesses,  and  to 
be  educated  in  the  same  style,  to  lead  a  life  of  empty  splen- 
dor; when  we  ceased  to  be  plain  American  citizens,  only 
aiming  to  raise  our  children  in  the  fear  of  God  and  obedience 
to  the  law,  to  do  honor  to  themselves,  their  relatives,  and  the 
community  at  large ;  when  we  exchanged  our  substantial 
comfort,  our  substantial  advancement  of  civilization,  for 
imaginaiy  comfort  and  a  demoralizing  civilization — then  our 
real  happiness  vanished  and  our  troubles  commenced,  gradu- 
ally depriving  us  of  comfort,  of  health,  of  usefulness,  and, 
above  all,  endangering  our  honesty  and  honor.  No  man  can 
be  honest  and  honorable  who  lives  above  his  income.  He  is 
compelled  to  resort  to  fraudulent  and  disgraceful  measures 
in  order  to  meet  his  daily  growing  wants." 

The  son  blushed,  and  the  father  noticing  it,  remarked : 
"  Is  that  not  so,  Edward  ?  " 

Mr.  Edward  Hunting  thought  of  his  "Wall-street  specula- 
tions, and  of  his  over-drawn  bank  account,  now  providen- 
tially provided  for,  and  answered:  "Yes,  father;  a  man 


130  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

who   lives   above   his   income   can   not  remain  honest  and 
honorable,  in  the  fullest  sense  of  the  word." 

"  I  am  very  glad  that  you  admit  that  as  a  fact,"  replied 
the  father ;  "  for  now  I  have  hopes  that  you  will  draw  in 
your  sails,  draw  in  your  reins,  and  not  go  it  so  fast,  and  will 
comeback  to  the  old  style  of  living  in  comfort  and  peace, 
with  yourself  and  with  your  wife  and  family,  of  which  the 
pursuit  after  great  wealth,  and  your  extravagant  mode  of 
living,  had  deprived  you." 

The  old  gentleman  paused  to  wipe  the  tears  from  his  eyes, 
and  then  continued,  in  a  lower,  but  more  affectionate  voice  : 
"Yes,  my  dear  son,  draw  in  your  sails,  which  expand  too 
much,  else  the  least  storm  will  disable  your  ship  and  you 
will  founder  with  your  dear  ones,  in  the  evening  of  life ;  keep 
closer  to  the  shore  and  teach  your  children  to  swim,  to  paddle 
their  own  canoe ;  I  could  not  help  blushing  for  shame  and 
indignation  when  I  saw  yesterday,  how  helpless  the  whole 
family  was,  when  they  heard  that  the  cook  took  sick.  You 
and  they,  with  all  your  wealth,  had  to  be  without  a  dinner  or 
else  to  go  to  a  restaurant.  To  have  three  full  grown  daugh- 
ters in  the  house  and  not  one  able  to  prepare  a  dinner,  is 
enough  to  make  a  saint  swear,  and  as  our  young  men  nowa- 
days are  not  much  of  saints,  we  can  imagine  how  they  will 
swear  and  carry  on,  after  they  are  married  and  find  their 
wives  so  helpless  in  matters  on  which  the  comfort  of  life 
depends." 

"  But  I  am  in  hopes  that  my  daughters  will  marry  men 
who  are  able  to  keep  servants,"  remarked  Mr.  Edward 
Hunting. 

"  There  is  nothing  so  uncertain  in  life,  as  that  girls  will 
marry  men  who  will  be  able  to  keep  servants  to  do  their 
work.  Take  yourself  for  an  example.  You  live  to  the  fullest 
extent  of  your  income,  of  course  your  children  share  it  with 
you  and  become  used  to  this  style  of  living.  Now,  after 
your  death  your  property  will  be  divided  into  five  shares, 
among  your  children,  after  deducting  an  equal  amount  of 
your  wife's  dowry;  each  child  tries,  of  course,  to  have  a 


A  TALE    OF    REAL   LIFE.  131 

home  of  its  own,  can  that  home  be  so  grand  with  one-fifth  of 
the  estate,  as  the  parental  home  was?  No!" 

"  But  my  daughters  may  marry  men  who  have  also  prop- 
erty of  their  own,  and  that  property  with  my  children's  in- 
heritance or  my  wedding  gift  may  enable  them  to  live  in  the 
same  style  as  they  were  used  to  in  their  parental  home,"  re- 
marked Mr.  Edward  Hunting. 

"They  may,"  responded  the  father,  "but  very  likely  they 
will  marry  young  men  whose  parents  have  lived  as  extrava- 
gantly as  you,  and  who  notwithstanding  their  good  will,  are 
unable  to  render  them  any  pecuniary  assistance;  if  anything, 
they,  like  you,  hoped  that  by  their  marriage  with  your 
daughters  they  would  strengthen  themselves  financially,  and 
thus  both  families  find  themselves  deceived.  They  can  not 
live  as  grandly  as  they  have  been  brought  up  in  their  child- 
hood. Their  home  becomes  comfortless;  they  blame  each 
other,  each  considering  himself  deceived.  A  coldness  springs 
up  between  the  young  couple  which  gradually  cuts  the  link 
as  man  and  wife.  It  is  not  their  fault  but  their  parent's 
who  lived  too  expensively,  who  did  not  teach  them  to  work 
and  become  self-relying,  who  did  not  set  them  the  example 
of  husbanding  their  means  and  to  live  in  humility.  If  yo.u, 
my  son,  will  continue  to  live  in  the  same  style  as  you  have 
of  late  and  will  not  exhort  your  daughters  to  do  housework, 
and  make  themselves  generally  useful,  you  may  expect  to 
see  your  daughters  unhappy  wives,  who  will  soon  seek  again 
your  house  as  their  home,  there  to  live  until  death  will  relieve 
them  of  their  unhappiness." 

"  Father,  I  implore  you,  do  not  continue  to  draw  before  me 
such  a  picture,  it  makes  me  feel  sad,  it  would  break  my 
heart,"  exclaimed  the  kind-hearted  Edward  Hunting. 

"  It  is  as  painful  for  me  to  draw  such  a  picture  as  it  is  for 
you  to  listen  to  it,  but  as  your  father,  as  the  grandfather  of 
the  children,  it  is  my  most  solemn  duty  to  warn  you,  to  beg 
of  you  to  change,  or  at  least  modify,  your  mode  of  living,  and 
to  follow  the  example  of  your  parents.  Live  as  I  lived,  plain 
and  unpretending,  but  have  genuine  comfort,  comfort  wrought 


132  OTTR  PROSPECTS. 

by  your  own  hands,  the  hands  of  your  wife,  and  by  the 
hands  of  your  children." 

Mr.  Edward  Hunting  started  at  the  words  "comfort 
wrought  by  your  own  hands,  by  the  hands  of  your  wife,  and 
by  the  hands  of  your  children."  What  comforts  did  his 
children  ever  provide  for  him?  None  whatever.  With  the 
exception  of  Augustus,  they  had  been  to  him  a  source  of 
great  trouble.  His  son  Charles  was  a  spendthrift,  his  daugh- 
ters passed  their  time  between  dressing  and  taking  their 
lessons,  and  besides  complaining  always.  The  doctor  was  a 
constant  visitor  at  his  house.  He  had  nothing  else  to  do  but 
to  wait  on  his  children  and  foot  their  bills.  That  was  the 
comfort  his  children  wrought  for  him,  a  comfort  which  made 
him  old  before  his  time.  He  sighed  deeply  for  he  felt  op- 
pressed in  his  mind. 

The  father  hearing  the  sigh,  exclaimed:  "My  heart  aches 
to  hear  you  sigh  as  you  do.  There  is  something  that  oppres- 
ses you.  Is  it  the  severe  loss  of  money  in  your  Wall  street 
speculations?  Let  that  not  annoy  you,  for  you  have  still 
ample  left,  and  you  shall  receive  your  full  share  of  my  prop- 
erty." 

"Please,  don't  refer  to  that,  father,"  begged  the  son. 
"  Whatever  I  have  lost  in  Wall  street,  has  been  a  gain,  a  real 
gain  to  me,  for  it  has  taught  me  the  great  lesson,  not  to  em- 
bark into  any  enterprise  outside  of  my  legitimate  business. 
As  for  your  property,  I  hope  that  G-od  will  spare  you  yet 
many,  many  years,  to  enjoy  it  yourself.  I  sigh  not  because  I 
have  lost  some  property,  or  because  I  want  more  than  I  have. 
I  sigh  because  I  fear  that  I  have  not  done  my  fatherly  duty 
toward  my  children.  I  have  not  given  them  the  right  edu- 
cation, and  that  thought  makes  me  feel  very  unhappy." 

"  I  am  rejoiced  to  hear  that  it  is  that  which  oppresses  you !" 
exclaimed  the  father.  "Now,  there  are  good  prospects  that 
you  will  see  your  children  as  well  brought  up  as  any  chil- 
dren, for  all  you  need  to  do  is  to  be  just  and  firm.  Chalk  out 
as  you  would  like  to  have  your  children  to  be ;  inform  your 
wife  of  it,  secure  her  co-operation,  and  then  remain  firm  as 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  133 

the  granite  itself,  to  carry  out  your  views  in  regard  to  their 
future  ;  but  know  first  yourself  what  you  would  desire  and 
what  would  secure  their  happiness.  Build  no  castles  in  the 
air." 

"  You  are  right,  father,  it  is  one  of  ray  weaknesses  to  be 
too  sanguine  in  my  expectations,  and  to  reach  out  too  high, 
higher  than  I  can  reach  without  the  greatest  effort.  Let  me 
expect  less,  I  will  then  be  saved  from  disappointments." 

"  Now  you  come  back  to  reason !"  ejaculated  the  father, 
joyfully.  "A  good  general  does  not  put  his  entire  army  at 
once  in  action ;  he  keeps  some  in  reserve,  to  be  used  only  in 
critical  moments,  on  which  success  often  depends." 

"  Yes,  for  the  first  time  in  my  life,  do  I  realize  to  a  full 
extent  the  great  responsibility  which  rests  on  my  shoulders, 
as  a  husband  and  a  father.  It  is  my  duty  to  manage  my 
household  so  wisely,  that  I  will  be  the  possessor  of  a  good 
wife  and  of  good  children,  who  act  their  part  well !"  exclaimed 
Mr.  Edward  Hunting,  speaking  more  to  himself  than  to  his 
old  father. 

"  It  is  truly  glorious  to  hear  you,  my  beloved  son,  come 
to  such  wise  conclusions.  There  is  no  nobler  title  than  that 
man  is  a  good  and  wise  husband  and  father.  There  is  no 
greater  blessing  on  earth  than  to  be  the  possessor  of  a  good 
wife  and  good  children.  Come,  my  dear  son,  come  to  my  arms ; 
your  words  have  relieved  me  of  a  heavy  burden  of  cares, 
of  fears,  and  deepest  apprehension.  Your  words  have  made 
me  twenty  years  younger !"  exclaimed  the  father,  opening 
his  arms. 

The  son  rushed  into  his  arms,  and  embracing  his  aged  pa- 
rent, affectionately,  he  cried  :  Father,  I  have  suffered  much  of 
late;  bless  me." 

"  You  have  suffered  much  because  you  lead  an  unnatural 
life.  I  bless  you ;  may  peace  reign  supreme  within  you, 
within  your  wife  and  your  children,  and  may  you  all  fill 
your  mission,  pleasing  before  God  and  men.  Amen." 

A  gentle  knock  was  heard  on  the  door.  "  Come  in,"  said 
the  grandfather,  and  Miss  Blanche  entered  the  room  with  a 


134  omt  PROSPECTS. 

plate  of  Malaga  grapes,  for  the  father  and  grandfather,  as 
her  mother  had  bidden  her. 

"  Grandpa  and  papa,  mamma  sends  you  some  Malaga 
grapes ;  please,  take  some,"  asked  the  young  lady,  grace- 
fully. 

The  grandfather  selected  a  nice  bunch  of  the  proffered 
grapes,  and  gave  it  to  his  sonr  saying:  "Here,  Edward,  take 
these  grapes,  as  my  offering  of  good  understanding  between 
us,  and  you  may  rely  that  I  will  assist  you  to  the  best  of  my 
ability,  in  your  resolution." 

"Thank  you,  father!"  exclaimed  the  son;  I  accept  this 
noble  fruit  in  the  spirit  it  is  given;  may  God  be  with  us." 

"  God  is  with  those  who  try  to  act  godly,"  answered  the 
father,  promptly. 

"Blanche,  please  tell  mother  that  I  wish  to  see  her." 

"  That  is  the  way  to  do  it,"  remarked  the  grandfather.  If 
a  husband  wishes  to  be  successful,  he  must,  to  a  certain  ex- 
tent, secure  the  good-will  and  co-operation  of  his  wife,  especi- 
ally when  the  question  of  the  education  of  their  children 
is  concerned." 

Mrs.  Hunting  entered,  saying:  "You  wish  to  see  me,  Ed- 
ward?" 

"  Yes,  my  dear ;  I  wish  to  speak  to  you  in  the  presence  of 
father,  about  the  future  welfare  of  our  children." 

"  I  am  glad  you  will,"  answered  the  wife,  taking  the  chair 
proffered  by  her  husband,  and  seating  herself  near  to  his 
Bide. 

"  My  father  has  just  pointed  out  to  me  a  very  important 
fact,  that  we  are  doing  our  children  a  great  injury,  by  living 
in  such  a  grand  stylo,  that  it  takes  all  my  experience  and  my 
estate  can  earn  to  supply  our  wants.  How  can  we  expect 
that  our  children,  after  they  are  settled  down  for  themselves, 
without  the  experience  and  with  only  one-fifth  of  the  estate 
I  possess,  can  live  in  the  same  style  as  they  were  used  to  in 
their  parental  home?  It  is  unnatural  to  expect  that  they 
should  be  happy,  when  they  are  compelled  to  do  without 
this  or  that  comfort,  which  they  enjoyed  from  their  earliest 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  135 

childhood.  Just  as  little  as  we  can  expect  that  a  plant,  when 
removed  from  rich  to  poor  soil,  will  grow  and  nourish  as 
well  as  it  would  in  its  original  ground,  so  little  can  we  expect 
to  see  our  children  happy  when  they  have  to  exchange  their 
parental  home,  for  one  not  so  splendid  and  grand." 

"  But  I  hope,"  returned  the  mother,  "  that  our  daughters, 
through  their  personal  attractions,  through  their  accomplish- 
ments and  family  connections,  will  marry  men  who  possess 
wealth  enough  to  set  up  house-keeping  as  they  have  been 
used  to  at  home,  and  beside  that,  I  have  great  hopes  that 
your  estate  will  so  vastly  increase,  that  in  a  few  years  hence, 
each  child  will  have  as  much  as  you  now  possess." 

"  These  are  great  expectations.  There  are  few  young  men 
as  rich  as  you  suppose  them  to  be.  Everybody  is  apt  to 
consider  himself  richer  than  he  is  in  fact.  I,  myself,  labored 
under  that  impression  until  I  came  to  analyze  my  affairs. 
Then  I  found  out  my  mistake,  and  I  am  glad  I  did.  I  shall 
manage,  now,  my  affairs  only  to  the  extent  of  my  actual 
capital,  and  the  prospects  are  that  that  capital  will  not  be 
much  increased,  for  the  profits  are  small  and  the  expenses 
are  large,"  answered  the  husband,  earnestly. 

"  We  mothers  deserve  to  be  pitied.  First,  the  trouble  we 
have  to  raise  our  daughters  and  to  educate  them ;  then,  there 
is  the  care  and  anxiety  to  see  them  settled  in  life.  It  is  no 
wonder  that  it  is  getting  fashionable  to  have  no  children,  or 
as  few  as  possible,"  said  Mrs.  Hunting,  meaningly. 

The  grandfather  started  at  these  words,  and  exclaimed : 

"  I  almost  deplore  that  my  life  has  been  spared  so  long  as 
to  live  and  see  the  degeneration  of  the  present  age.  It  has 
become  an  every-day  talk,  as  being  fashionable  not  to  have 
any  children.  But,  no,  it  is  foul  play;  it  is  murder  in  the 
first  degree;  it  is  a  crime  that  cries  before  God  and  men,  and 
is,  besides,  the  social  evil,  the  blackest  spot  on  modern 
civilization.  But  how  can  it  be  otherwise  when  a  woman  of 
your  intelligence,  of  your  social  standing,  finds  it  difficult  to 
marry  off  her  daughters  ?  The  very  means  you  have  used 
to  marry  them  have  defeated  your  object.  You  live  so 


136  CUE   PROSPECTS. 

grand,  you  dress  them  so  grand,  that  you  have  frightened 
off  the  young  men  who  are  looking  out  for  helpmates.  Ex- 
travagance has  made  marriage  almost  impossible,  and  those 
who  had  the  courage  to  marry  have  their  hands  full  to  keep 
up  fashionable  appearance;  and  to  have  children,  they  look 
upon  as  a  misfortune,  and  they  war  against  nature  and  vil- 
lainously destroy  God's  blessed  gift,  children." 

He  paused,  made  a  few  rapid  steps  across  the  room,  and 
stopping  suddenly  before  his  son  and  daughter-in-law,  he 
said,  in  a  calm  and  firm  voice : 

"  You,  my  son,  and  you,  my  daughter,  and  thousands  like 
you,  who  are  the  leaders  of  fashion  and  give  the  tone  to 
society,  are,  to  a  large  extent,  responsible  for  the  depravity 
which  now  exists  and  is  so  rapidly  increasing,  through  your 
great  display  of  wealth  and  expenditure,  through  the  aristo- 
cratic education  you  give  your  children,  an  education  which 
teaches  that  work  and  labor  are  degrading  and  burdensome, 
and  that  the  highest  attainment  is  to  look  well  and  to  wor- 
ship fashion,  not  God." 

He  paused  and  hesitated,  but  with  a  great  effort  proceeded  : 

"•The  present  mode  of  educating  and  bringing  up  your 
daughters  is  as  destructive  to  society  at  large  as  a  civil  war. 
Civil  war  has  the  effect  of  killing  neighbors,  impoverishing 
the  country  and  retarding  the  progress  of  civilization. 
Wives  who  do  not  know  the  art  of  cooking  and  house-keep- 
ing, who  place  before  their  husbands  ill-prepared  food  and 
unclean  rooms  and  bedding,  which  are  the  cause  of  sickness 
and  death  before  the  allotted  time — wives  who  dress  too 
much  in  silk,  satins,  and  other  fineries,  impoverish  the  land, 
and  many  of  our  modernly  educated  daughters  don't  live 
long  enough  to  become  wives  and  mothers.  They  become 
something  else  which  swells  the  ranks  of  demoralization, 
destroying  the  health  and  honor  of  our  youth  throughout 
the  land." 

He  paused  again,  buried  his  face  in  his  hands,  and  woe- 
fully exclaimed : 

"  To-day  we  behold  one  man's  daughter  fall  and  one  man's 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  137 

son  become  the  victim.  To-morrow  we  may  behold  our 
daughter  fall  and  our  son  become  the  victim.  Bad  morals 
will  lead  step  by  step  to  the  State-prison  or  to  the  gallows, 
and  all,  because  marriage  is  made  impossible,  through  your  ex- 
travagance, and  through  the  wrong  education  which  you 
give  your  daughters." 

The  old  gentleman  had  to  pause  again,  for  it  seemed  to 
him  quite  a  task  to  say  so  much,  and  say  it  so  plainly;  yet 
he  continued  with  the  same  energy: 

"Only  yesterday  I  witnessed  the  domestic  helplessness  of 
your  accomplished  daughters.  "When  they  came  home  from 
their  morning  ride  there  was  no  dinner  prepared.  The  cook 
was  sick,  and  they  themselves  could  not  prepare  a  meal, 
and  you,  my  daughter,  were  too  fashionable  to  go  into  the 
kitchen  and  cook  a  dinner,  and  so  to  teach  your  daughters 
how  to  do  it." 

The  door  was  open  to  let  the  hot  air  in  from  the  hall.  A 
favorite  cat  of  Mrs.  Hunting's  had  entered  the  room. 

"See!"  exclaimed  the  grandfather,  "that  cat — and  a  cat  is 
acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the  falsest  creatures  of  creation ; 
still  that  very  cat  will  catch  a  mouse,  and  maneuver  around 
it  so  as  to  teach  her  young  kittens  to  catch  a  mouse,  and  so 
fulfills  her  mission.  And  you,  a  woman,  God's  most  beauti- 
ful creation,  his  best  gift  to  man,  will  be  false  to  your  calling ! 
Know  it,  and  remember  that  it  is  the  man's  duty  to  follow  his 
pursuits,  in  order  to  provide  the  necessary  means  for  his 
family,  for  the  hearth  he  has  founded;  but  it  is  the  wife's 
duty  also  to  take  care  of  and  make  pleasant  that  home.  And 
no  home  can  be  pleasant  where  there  is  no  dinner  because 
the  cook  is  sick. 

"Am  I  right?"  asked  the  grandfather,  trying  to  stand  as 
erect  as  his  old  age  would  permit. 

"You  are  right,  grandfather,"  answered  Mrs.  Hunting, 
meekly. 

"Will  you,  henceforth,  prepare  the  meals  for  your  family, 
and  instruct  your  daughters  in  that  great  art,  which  is  the 
promoter  of  health  and  of  domestic  happiness  ?" 


138  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

"I  will  see,"  answered  Mrs.  Hunting,  in  a  hesitating  tone. 

"You  will  see!"  ejaculated  the  old  gentleman,  his  eyes 
flashing  with  anger.  "  Qui  timide  rogat  docet  negare." 

Mrs.  Hunting  knew  that  whenever  her  father-in-law 
quoted  Latin  he  was  very  angry,  and  so  she  was  prepared 
for  the  worst. 

"Ah,"  said  he,  "you  will  see!  No;  you.  shall  see  that  if 
your  daughters  are  not,  henceforth,  dressed  plainer,  and 
work  several  hours  every  day  in  the  kitchen,  under  your 
supervision,  as  true  as  my  name  is  Zadock  Hunting,  I  will 
disinherit  them,  and  the  bulk  of  my  estate,  worth  at  least 
two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  I  will  bequeath  to  establish  a 
mission,  and  an  abode  to  reclaim  and  provide  a  home  for 
fallen  women,  for  there  your  vanity  will  drive  your  children, 
my  poor,  pitiable  granddaughters." 

He  sank  exhausted  in  a  chair,  buried  his  face  in  his  hands, 
and  sobbed  like  a  child. 

"  Father,  calm  yourself,"  exclaimed  Edward  Hunting. 
"Do  not  grieve  so,  for  it  breaks  my  heart  to  see  it.  I  admit 
that  we  have  made  a  mistake  by  not  bringing  up  our  daugh- 
ters to  know  more  of  domestic  affairs,  and  of  usefulness  at 
home.  But  we,  especially  my  dear  wife,  are  not  so  blamable ; 
it  is  society.  Everybody  does  it,  and  we  are,  more  or  less, 
in  the  same  boat.  A  few  only  enjoy  the  great  blessing  of 
having,  like  ourselves,  a  father  who  points  out  so  plainly  our 
mistakes  and  the  probable  consequences.  Eest  assured,  my 
dear  father,  that  your  words  have  made  a  deep  impression 
upon  Kate  and  me. 

"  They  have,  indeed,"  rejoined  Mrs.  Hunting,  in  a  subdued 
voice. 

"They  have  made  such  an  impression  that  you  will  see," 
remarked  the  old  gentleman  to  Mrs.  Hunting. 

"  I  said,  '  I  will  see,'  because  my  mind  was  then  not  fully 
made  up  whether  it  be  really  necessary  that  my  daughters 
should  do  manual  labor,  for  to  cook  and  do  other  housework 
is  manual  labor ;  they  will  lose  some  of  their  gracefulness, 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  139 

and  especially  their  small  and  delicate  hands,  which  are  so 
much  admired,  will  show  the  toil  they  undergo." 

"Small,  delicate  hands  are  unquestionably  very  beautiful, 
but  to  a  wise  man  they  are  not  half  as  pretty  as  hands  not 
quite  so  small  and  delicate,  but  which  are  used  to  work,  and 
•which  can  produce  something  useful,"  answered  the  grand- 
father, calmly. 

"  Grandpa,  you  must  not  be  angry  with  me  if  I  do  not 
acquiesce  in  your  opinion  at  once,  as  regards  teaching  my 
daughters  how  to  cook  and  do  housework.  It  has  been  my 
wish  and  aim  that  they  should  learn  only  that  which  ladies 
of  first  rank  should  know,"  said  Mrs.  Hunting,  with  a  self- 
satisfied  air. 

"Now  I  see!  now  I  see!"  exclaimed  the  grandfather, 
"that  you  are  not  to  blame  for  the  way  and  manner  you 
raise  your  daughters.  You  do  not  consider  yourself  the  wife 
of  a  plain  American  citizen,  but  the  wife  of  a  duke,  and  you 
a  duchess,  and  your  daughters,  Lady  Agnes,  Lady  Myra, 
Lady  Blanche.  And  why  should  a  duchess  and  her  daughters 
trouble  their  minds  about  such  small  matters,  as  cooking  and 
house-keeping?  Too  much  money  is  the  root  of  all  evil,  or 
let  me  better  say :  the  belief  of  having  too  much  money  is  at 
the  bottom  of  evil,  for  your  husband  stated  thie  evening,  that 
after  carefully  investigating  his  affairs,  he  finds  himself  not 
really  as  rich  as  he  supposed  himself  to  be  ;  and  that  is  no 
doubt  the  case  with  most  of  the  people  who  thus  deceive 
themselves  and  fall  into  fatal  errors." 

He  paused,  and  noticing  the  cat,  which  was  sitting  on  Mrs. 
Hunting's  lap  and  licking  her  mistress'  chin  and  hand,  turn- 
ing around  and  looking  angry  at  him,  he  smilingly  said  : 

"  To  see  that  cat  looking  at  me  so  viciously,  one  would 
suppose  that  she  understands  me  and  dislikes  me,  because  I 
speak  out  my  mind  so  plainly;  and  plain  talk,  especially 
when  it  is  true,  is  not  popular,  even  a  cat  frowns  at  it;"  then 
he  continued  in  a  more  earnest  tone :  "  Yes,  my  daughter, 
you  are  not  a  duchess,  your  husband  is  not  a  duke ;  he  is 
only  a  plain  American  citizen,  a  good  citizen,  and  to  be  a  good 


140  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

citizen  is  a  great  title,  and  to  be  the  wife  of  such  a  man  is 
more  than  to  be  the  possessor  of  a  coronet.  It  is  a  thousand 
times  better  for  you  to  be  the  good,  self-relying  Mrs.  Hunt- 
ing than  the  Duchess  Hunting,  who  has  to  depend  on  the 
whims  of  her  servants." 

He  paused  again,  took  out  his  watch  to  see  what  time  it 
was,  and  continued: 

"  As  for  your  wealth,  don't  pride  yourself  on  that,  for 
nothing  in  the  world  is  more  unreliable  than  riches.  They 
have  wings  and  fly  away  before  one  is  aware  of  it.  The 
most  woeful  sight  is  to  see  an  impoverished  man  or  woman 
who  were  once  rich,  and  being  used  and  brought  up  in  afflu- 
ence and  wealth,  without  an  idea  of  work,  they  are  utterly 
helpless  and  so  become  a  burden  to  themselves  and  soci'ety. 
If  you  love  yourself,  if  you  love  your  children,  don't  set  them 
the  example  to  pride  themselves  and  to  rely  on  riches,  for  it 
is  a  weak  pillar,  which  often,  at  the  most  critical  moments  of 
life,  gives  way,  and  throws  those  who  relied  on  it  in  the  dust. 
There  are  only  two  pillars  upon  which  we  can  rely  for  sup- 
port; one  is  our  Heavenly  Father,  the  other  is  industry, 
coupled  with  good  habits ;  and  with  such  pillars,  the  future 
here,  and  the  future  hereafter,  is  safe.  But  it  is  getting  late, 
and  I  bid  you  good  night." 

"Father,  don't  go  home  to-night,  there  is  a  storm  raging 
without  and  you  might  catch  cold.  Stay  with  us,  and  beside 
I  feel  very  unwell;  I  like  to  have  you  near  me,"  said  Edward 
Hunting. 

Both  the  father  and  the  wife  looked  at  the  son  and  hus- 
band, when,  to  their  great  alarm,  they  observed  that  he  was 
growing  pale  and  haggard.  Both  started  up,  each  took  hold 
of  his  hand,  which  seemed  to  grow  hot  and  cold  in  succes- 
sion. 

"  What  ails  you,  dear  Edward  ?"  exclaimed  both,  with  anx- 
iety. 

"  I  can  not  toll.  My  heart  palpitates  strangely,  and  my 
feet  are  growing  cold ;  my  head  is  dizzy;  I  must  go  to  bed." 
He  arose,  but  kept  himself  on  his  feet  with  great  difficulty. 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  141 

He  began  to  undress,  but  was  unable  to  do  it  alone.     The 
aged  father  assisted  him  with  trembling  hands. 

"  Shall  I  send  for  the  doctor  ?"  asked  the  wife,  tearfully. 

"No,"  answered  the  grandfather;  but  go  and  make  a  cup 
of  tea,  half  tea  and  half  boiled  milk.  Bring  me,  also,  a  jug 
of  hot  water,  and  warm  a  blanket  over  the  furnace  register," 
commanded  the  grandfather,  calmly. 

Mrs.  Hunting  quickly  left  the  room  to  do  the  old  gentle- 
man's bidding,  and  said  to  herself: 

"  I  hope  Augustine  is  not  gone  to  bed  yet ;  but  if  she  is,  I 
will  not  call  her — I  will  do  it  myself.  It  will  please  my  dear 
husband  and  grandfather  to  see  that  I  do  not  consider  my- 
self a  duchess." 

Entering  the  kitchen,  she  found  the  room  dark,  and  no 
fire  in  the  stove,  but  was  much  pleased  to  see  kindling  wood 
and  coal,  ready  for  use  the  next  morning,  near  the  stove. 

"Augustine  is  a  good  girl,"  soliloquized  Mrs.  Hunting. 
"See  how  nicely  she  prepares  everything  for  the  morning. 
She  will  make  a  good  wife.  "What  did  I  say?  She  will 
make  a  good  wife,  because  she  prepares  kindling  wood  and 
coal  for  the  morning's  fire  !  Am  I  not  silly  for  saying  that?" 
and  she  began  kindling  the  fire  in  the  stove.  But  somehow 
it  did  not  burn.  "Once  I  knew,"  said  she,  "how  to  kindle 
a  fire  in  the  stove  quickly ;  but  what  is  the  matter  with  me  ? 
I  can  not  do  it  now.  Is  it  because  I  am  out  of  practice  ?  It 
must  be  so."  She  fanned  the  fire  with  her  dress,  she  kneeled 
before  the  stove,  and  blew  her  breath,  but  the  wood 
would  not  kindle.  She  used  all  the  paper  that  was  in  the 
kitchen,  and  even  went  in  the  library  for  some  old  news- 
papers, but  the  more  paper  she  stuffed  in  the  stove,  the  more 
she  obstructed  the  draft.  She  could  not  get  the  fire  started  ; 
she  had  to  give  it  up.  "  I  guess  I  better  call  Augustine. 
But  no,  I  will  see  whether  I  am  so  helpless.  I  will  cook  the 
tea  on  the  gas."  She  quickly  selected  a  suitable  pot,  and 
held  it  over  the  burning  gas,  but  poured  more  water  than 
needed  in  the  pot,  so  that  it  took  as  much  longer  to  boil. 


142  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

"  My  arms  ache  from  holding  that  pot,"  said  she  to  herself. 
"  What  tiresome  work  cooking  is  1" 

At  last  the  water  boiled,  and  the  tea  was  ready.  But  now 
the  milk  had  to  boil  also.  She  took  another  pot,  and  poured 
the  milk  in  it.  Having  found  that  she  made  a  mistake  by 
putting  too  much  water  in  the  first  pot,  she  now  took  only 
as  much  milk  as  she  thought  would  be  necessary,  never,  for 
a  moment,  thinking  that  such  a  hot  fire  as  burning  gas  would 
burn  the  milk  and  spoil  the  taste  of  the  tea,  which  it  actually 
did. 

She  brought  the  tea  and  gave  it  to  her  husband.  "  Here, 
my  dear  husband,  I  bring  you  a  cup  of  tea.  I  made  it  my- 
self." 

The  husband  took  the  tea,  but  to  save  his  life  he  could  not 
drink  it ;  it  had  the  smell  of  gas,  and  the  burned  milk  be- 
sides. He  handed  the  cup  of  tea  back  to  his  wife,  saying,  in  a 
feeble  voice,  "  I  thank  you,  dear,  I  don't  feel  like  drinking 
tea." 

Mrs.  Hunting  tasted  the  tea,  and  felt  mortified  when  she 
tasted  it. 

The  grandfather  did  not  taste  the  tea,  but  he  judged  from 
the  peculiar  scent  of  it.  "But,  daughter,  where  is  your  jug 
of  hot  water  ?  your  warm  blanket  ?  The  life  of  your  husband 
depends  on  it,  to  get  him  into  a  nice  perspiration"  pleaded  the 
grandfather.  "  Why  not  awake  your  daughters ;  please  be 
quick,  time  is  precious." 

"  Don't  wake  the  daughters,  call  the  cook,"  said  Mr.  Ed- 
ward Hunting. 

"Yes,  call  the  cook,"  requested  the  grandfather,  saying  to 
himself:  "  Thank  God  that  there  is  a  cook  in  the  house,  so 
that  I  can  get  a  cup  of  tea  fit  to  drink,  a  jug  of  hot  water, 
and  a  warm  blanket ;  that  is  all  that  is  necessary  to  get  the 
blood  in  nice  circulation." 

Mrs.  Hunting  with  a  heavy  heart  went  to  Augustine's  new 
room  and  gently  called  her,  "Augustine,  Augustine!  " 

"  Who  is  there  ?"  answered  the  girl,  readily. 

"  It  is  me,  Mrs.  Hunting,  please  get  up  and  make  some  tea 


A   TALE   OP   REAL    LIFE.  143 

and  a  jug  of  hot  water.     Mr.  Hunting  is  sick  and  wants  it," 
answered  the  mistress. 

Instantly  Augustine  arose,  put  on  her  dress  and  left  the 
room,  asking  at  the  same  time:  "Anything  else  besides  tea 
and  a  jug  of  hot  water?  " 

"Yes,  a  warm  blanket." 

"  Then,  please  bring  me  the  blanket,  while  I  make  the 
fire."  She  went  to  the  kitchen  and  was  greatly  surprised  at 
finding  the  stove  filled  with  paper  and  smoked  wood.  "  That 
good-for-nothing  young  man  must  have  returned  to-night, 
and  went  to  work  to  cook  his  hot  brandy,  or  whatever  they 
call  it,"  said  Augustine,  angrily  pulling  out  of  the  stove  the 
cindered  and  partly  burned  paper. 

Mrs.  Hunting  brought  the  blanket.  "Shall  I  warm  the 
blanket  on  the  hot-air  furnace,"  asked  she. 

"  I  guess  the  fire  in  the  furnace  is  out  by  this  time.  I 
closed  the  register  before  I  went  to  my  room,  in  order  to 
keep  the  heat  in  the  house.  I  will  see  directly,  as  soon  as  I 
have  kindled  the  fire.  But,  who  was  at  the  stove ;  did  Mr. 
Charles  come  back  ?  " 

"  I  was  trying  to  make  a  fire  in  the  stove,  but  the  kindling 
wood  seemed  wet  and  would  not  burn  ;  but  what  has  Charles 
to  do  with  the  stove,"  asked  Mrs.  Hunting,  inquiringly. 

""When  Charles  is  at  home,  he  frequently  comes  in  my 
kitchen  to  cook  some  brandy,  and  when  he  finds  no  fire,  he 
tries  to  kindle  one  just  in  this  same  way." 

The  mother  made  no  reply,  and  thought  of  the  words  of 
her  husband  when  he  so  severely  blamed  her  that  their  chil- 
dren were  helpless  creatures.  "  See,"  exclaimed  she  to  her- 
self, "  how  handy  this  girl  kindles  the  fire ;  with  all  my 
intelligence  and  knowledge  of  fashions  and  the  world,  I 
could  not  make  that  fire  burn." 

Augustine  took  the  blanket,  went  in  the  hall,  opened  the 
register,  but  a  blast  of  cold  air  came  up  ;  she  quickly  closed 
it  again  and  came  back  to  the  kitchen,  saying :  "  The  fire 
in  the  furnace  is  out ;  I  will  make  the  blanket  hot  inside  the 
oven.  She  went  in  the  cellar,  kindled  a  fire  in  the  furnace, 


144  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

brought  an  armful  of  kindling  wood  and  an  empty  earthen 
jug.  In  less  than  no  time,  a  good  cup  of  tea,  a  jug  of  hot 
water,  and  a  thoroughly  warmed  blanket,  were  found  in  Mr. 
Hunting's  room.  The  grandfather  took  the  tea  from  Mrs. 
Hunting's  hands,  saying :  "Now,  please  bring  me  a  couple 
of  towels  and  some  brandy,  if  you  have  it  in  the  house." 
He  tasted  the  tea,  and  said,  "  Here,  my  dear  son,  drink  this 
tea,  it  is  good,  drink  it  as  hot  as  you  can." 

The  son  drank  the  tea,  exclaiming ;  "  Ah  !  this  is  good,  I 
feel  it." 

"  In  an  hour  you  shall  have  another  cup  ;  now  let  me  wrap 
that  warm  blanket  around  your  body,  keep  it  on  pretty  tight, 
stretch  out  your  limbs,"  and  wrapping  the  hot  jug  in  a  towel 
he  placed  it  to  his  feet.  He  covered  him  well,  took  some  of 
the  brandy  and  washed  his  head  and  face.  "  Inhale  some  of 
it,  Edward,"  said  he,  drying  his  face  and  head  ;  he  took  his 
hands  and  rubbed  them  well  with  the  same  liquid. 

"Thank  you,  my  good  father,  I  feel  quite  relieved;  you 
are  quite  a  doctor." 

"  Don't  say  anything,  my  boy,  but  sleep ;  if  you  can  sleep, 
you  will  soon  be  well.  And  you,  my  daughter,  go  to  your 
room,  and  try  to  sleep.  I  will  watch  here,  resting  on  the 
sofa." 

Mrs.  Hunting  hesitated, and  objected  to  this  arrangement, 
but  the  grandfather  pushed  her  toward  the  bed,  and  ex- 
claimed : 

"  Res  est  sacra  miser" 

Mrs.  Hunting  moved  at  once  toward  the  door,  muttering 
to  herself : 

"  Grandfather  is  out  of  patience,  because  he  quotes  Latin." 

When  leaving  the  room,  the  grandfather  requested  her  to 
see  that  a  pitcher  of  water  was  left  at  the  door. 

"  I  will  bring  it  myself.  But  please,  tell  me  what  you  were 
saying  in  Latin." 

"  Nothing  particular  ;  only,  a  suffering  person  is  a  sacred 
thing.  And  now,  good  night  1"  He  went  to  his  post  to 
watch  over  his  son. 


A  TALE   OF   EEAL   LIFE.  145 


CHAPTEE  X. 

"  Think  not,  when  woman's  transient  breath  is  fled, 
That  all  her  vanities  at  once  are  dead; 
Succeeding  vanities  she  still  regards. — Pope. 

"  JOHN  JAMES  LA  MONTE,  why,  what  is  the  matter  with 
you?"  asked  the  cashier  himself,  after  the  bookkeeper  of 
Edward  Hunting  &  Co.  had  left  the  bank,  with  the  note  of 
six  thousand  dollars  in  his  hand,  which  was  paid  with  a 
draft  on  the  Eastern  bank  for  the  same  amount.  "  To  give 
up  the  note  for  this  piece  of  paper  which,  I  feel  almost 
certain  will  be  returned  unpaid,  is  almost  inexcusable."  He 
twisted  his  moustache  vigorously,  and  continued :  "  I  feel 
that  I  am  growing  weak  of  late;  I  follow  more  the  impulse 
of  my  heart  than  the  dictation  of  my  head.  This  may  bring 
me  into  serious  trouble;  a  great  financier  must  have  neither 
heart  nor  feelings  for  any  one  but  his  own  interest,  the  sub- 
stance of  which  is  money."  He  tapped  the  bell,  and  the  man 
of  all  work  answered  the  call,  respectfully  waiting  for 
orders. 

"  Peter,  go  and  hitch  up  my  horse,  and  bring  my  buggy 
to  the  barber  Bauntain ;  tie  the  horse  to  a  post  and  cover 
him  with  a  blanket,  but  bring  the  whip  inside  of  the  barber- 
shop, where  I  will  be  waiting." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  was  the  prompt  reply,  and  Peter  left. 

The  cashier  glanced  carefully  over  the  accounts  of  the  re- 
ceiving and  paying  teller,  and  after  having  the  books  and 
other  valuables  placed  in  the  colossal  vault,  which  he  care- 
fully locked,  he  went  to  the  barber  Bauntain.  This  was  not 
a  very  fashionable  but  a  respectable  place,  where  the  oldest 
citizens  and  their  grown  sons  enjoyed  the  comfort  of  a 
smooth  shave  and  a  chat  of  past  times,  present  and  probable 
future ;  for  the  barber  Bauntain  was  long  established,  knew 


146  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

all  the  families  and  men  of  distinction  who  had  raised  them- 
selves from  obscurity  to  commanding  positions,  and  also  the 
families  and  men  who  had  fallen  back  from  commanding 
positions  to  obscurity.  He  knew  more  than  that ;  he  knew 
the  causes  of  both,  and  freely  conversed  whenever  his  patrons 
felt  like  having  a  chat  about  the  ups  and  downs  in  life.- 

"How  do  you  do,  Mr.  La  Monte,"  said  the  proprietor, 
pleasantly;  "my  chair  is  ready  for  you." 

"  How  do  you  do,  Bauntain  ;  I  am  glad  you  are  disengaged 
and  can  give  me  a  shave,"  and,  placing  himself  in  the  chair, 
he  said,  "  you  must  give  me  an  extra  fine  shave  to-day,  and 
fix  me  up  in  French  fashion." 

"  Of  course,  I  will.     You  expect  great  company,  to-day?" 

"Who  told  you  of  it?"  asked  Mr.  La  Monte,  quickly. 

"Let  me  see,  who  was  it  that  said  you  expect  two  Counts 
from  Paris.  "Well,  I  declare  I  can  not  call  it  to  mind,"  re- 
marked the  artist  of  the  razor,  innocently. 

"Did  my  son  pay  for  his  hair-cutting?"  asked  Mr.  La 
Monte. 

"Your  son  was  not  here  these  two  months,  and  whenever 
he  gets  his  hair  cut  he  pays.  I  wished  to  charge  it  to  you, 
but  he  would  not  have  it,  saying  that  he  was  carrying  out 
your  instructions,  'to  pay  as  he  goes  along.'  " 

Mr.  La  Monte  enjoyed  a  double  pleasure ;  for  one,  that  it 
was  not  his  son  who  had  informed  the  world,  that  he  expected 
such  distinguished  visitors,  and  for  the  other,  that  his  son 
would  not  make  any  debts,*-but  remembered,  even  in  such  a 
little  matter,  his  instructions  to  pay  as  he  goes  along. 

"Any  particular  news  to-day?"  asked  Mr.  La  Monte?" 
not  out  of  curiosity,  but  from  sheer  habit.  It  was  his  habit 
to  ask  for  news,  and  he  considered  it  even  to  be  a  part  of  a 
cashier's  business  to  hear  the  news,  even  if  they  were  rumors  j 
there  is  something  in  a  rumor.  A  cashier  must  keep  him- 
self posted ;  he  must  note  everything  and  use  every  particle 
of  information  to  form  correct  conclusions. 

"I  felt  very  bad  to-day;  very  bad,  indeed,  to  hear  that 
one  of  our  oldest  families  is  in  great  trouble,"  said  the  able 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  147 

barber,  pausing,  and  expecting  that  his  patron  would  ask 
him  the  name  of  that  family,  and  what  kind  of  troubles  they 
were  in,  but  the  cashier  remained  silent,  yet  all  attention. 

"I  refer  to  Mr.  Edward  Hunting.  There  was  a  rumor 
that  he  came  near  having  his  note  protested  to-day,  and 
that  he  is  very  much  embarrassed  as  regards  money.  He 
has  a  good  deal  of  trouble  with  his  son,  Charles,  who  returned 
from  college  entirely  spoiled  and  demoralized.  He  spends 
lots  of  money  and  gets  into  all  kinds  of  scrapes,  which,  of 
course,  will  annoy  and  trouble  any  father." 

"And  how  was  it  that  the  son  returned  from  college,  so 
entirely  changed  in  his  character  and  habits?"  asked  Mr.  La 
Monte,  carelessly. 

"  Bad  company,  sir;  bad  company  has  done  it,  whisky  and 
lewd  women  put  on  the  finishing  touches,"  answered  the 
barber,  sharpening  vigorously  his  razor.  "It  is  a  shame 
that  they  permit,  at  those  places  of  learning,  drinking  shops 
and  those  gilded  butterflies,  who  mislead  young  men  and 
ruin  them  forever,"  remarked  Bauntain,  feelingly. 

"You  are  right;  strong  beverage  and  degraded  women 
are  two  formidable  foes  against  a  weak  principled  young 
man,"  observed  Mr.  La  Monte. 

"  I  should  say  there  are  even  a  great  many  old  men  who 
hardly  can  withstand  the  temptation,"  said  Bauntain. 

"  Now,  Bauntain,  I  would  like  to  know  whether  you  say 
this  from  experience,"  asked  the  cashier,  laughingly. 

•'•  "Why,  no ;  whatever  I  know  is  only  from  observation  and 
not  experience.  I  observe  as  I  go  along,"  replied  the  barber. 

"And  remember  what  you  hear?" 

"If  it  is  worth  remembering — shall  I  shampoon  your  hair, 
Mr.  La  Monte?" 

"I  would  like  to  have  my  hair  shampooned,  but  it  is 
growing  cold  and  I  have  quite  a  ride  before  I  reach  my 
house." 

The  bank  porter  entered,  saying,  "Mr.  La  Monte,  I  brought 
your  horse  and  buggy  and  hitched  it  before  the  door,  where 
shall  I  put  the  whip?" 


148  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

"  In  the  corner — did  you  cover  the  horse  ?"  asked  Mr.  La 
Monte. 

"  Yes,  sir.  Anything  else  that  I  can  do?"  asked  the  porter, 
respectfully. 

"No,  Peter,  I  thank  you,  nothing  more." 

Peter  made  a  bow  and  left. 

"  This  is  the  last  shave  I'll  give  you  this  year.  How 
quickly  the  year  has  passed  around!"  remarked  the  barber. 

"Yes,  sir;  the  last  shave  this  year;  the  time  passes  quickly 
when  one  is  busy  as  you  are,  coining  money." 

"  Mr.  La  Monte,  don't  make  fun  of  me.  I  would  like  to 
make  money  as  some  people  I  know  of  are  making.  Just 
think  of  my  high  rent,  the  expensive  gas  bills,  fuel,  news- 
papers on  file,  and  then  the  high  wages  of  my  hands,  to  say 
nothing  of  taxes  and  my  house  expenses.  Deduct  all  that 
and  the  balance  left  is  small.  I  wonder  on  which  side  of  the 
ledger  the  balance  with  most  people  will  stand  this  year? 
O !  the  expenses  are  too  large  that  a  poor  fellow  like  me  could 
make  anything  handsome." 

"  I  presume  you  have  a  good  deal  of  expenses,"  observed 
the  cashier. 

"I  should  say  so;  my  expenses  have  nearly  doubled  since 
the  last  few  years,  while  the  income  is  about  the  same,  yet  I 
do  not  complain,  as  long  as  my  family  and  myself  are  en- 
joying good  health,  and  I  am  earning  enough  to  keep  me 
free  of  debts,"  said  the  barber,  with  great  earnestness. 

"Good  health  and  to  be  free  of  debt  is  a  mint  of  wealth. 
Willing  hands  and  an  active  brain,  with  an  honest  and  fixed 
purpose,  will  gradually  produce  wealth  enough  to  keep  a 
family  in  comfort,"  said  Mr.  La  Monte,  leaving  the  chair, 
well  pleased  with  his  shave  and  the  remarks  of  the  barber. 
He  paid  Mr.  Bauntain,  wrapped  himself  in  his  overcoat,  lit  a 
cigar,  put  on  his  fur -lined  gloves,  took  his  whip  and  soon 
drove  briskly  home.  On  his  way  home  he  thought,  "  Who 
can  have  told  in  the  barber  shop  that  I  expect  company  from 
Europe,  and  that  Mr.  Edward  Hunting's  note  came  near  being 
protested  ?  I  feel  certain  that  none  of  my  employees  are  tell- 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  149 

tales.  So,  Charles  Hunting  got  spoiled  while  at  college  ;  I 
tremble  to  send  my  only  son  there ;  that  barber,  Bauntain, 
is  right,  the  authorities  should  see  to  it." 

He  drove  on  in  silence.  His  thoughts  wandered  back  to 
the  past,  when  he  left  his  widowed  mother's  home,  a  stripling 
of  nine  years,  and  went  to  the  large  city,  poor  and  unknown. 
He  had  no  friends  and  no  one  to  rely  upon  but  himself,  yet 
he  dreamed  of  great  wealth  and  a  great  name.  Had  his  dream 
been  realized?  had  he  accumulated  wealth?  had  he  gained  a 
great  name?  Not  yet  I  But  he  had  every  reason  to  be  satis- 
fied with  himself,  for  thousands  who  had  started  in  the  world 
to  seek  their  fortunes  like  himself  did  not  succeed  so  grandly 
as  he  did.  To  whom  or  to  what  did  he  owe  his  success? 
To  one  simple  word,  a  word  he  had  mastered  well — no! 
He  could  say  a  firm  no  to  himself,  and  that  no  had  saved  him 
from  being  thrown  in  company  to  which  his  better  self  ob- 
jected;  that  same  firm  no  made  him  drink  water  instead  of 
wine  or  liquors ;  that  same  no  made  him  wear  coarse  cloth- 
ing instead  of  fine  and  costly  ones,  and  so  he  was  enabled  to 
save  his  earnings ;  that  no  gave  him  a  good  character,  and 
his  employers  gradually  advanced  him  until  he  rose  from  a 
clerk  boy  to  the  honorable  position  of  cashier  in  the  bank; 
and  being  in  such  a  responsible  position,  it  was  of  great 
value  to  the  bank  to  have  a  cashier  who  could  so  timely  and 
well  say  no ! — either  an  emphatic  or  gentle  no!  The  bank 
flourished  under  his  management,  and  ho  felt  safe  and  secure 
in  his  position. 

Still  he  was  not  happy.  He  had  made  the  great  mistake 
of  marrying  a  girl  of  aristocratic  family,  who  looked  upon 
it  as  a  sacrifice  to  marry  him,  whose  family  was  so  much 
inferior  to  hers.  The  wife  knew  that  by  marrying  her  he 
had  succeeded  to  the  position  of  cashier  in  the  bank,  of 
which  her  father  was  a  large  share-holder,  and  who  used  his 
vote  and  influence  to  make  his  son-in-law  cashier  of  the 
bank. 

Mrs.  John  James  La  Monte  had  a  way  of  letting  her  hus- 
band feel  that  to  her  he  owed  his  elevation  in  the  bank  and 


150  CUE   PROSPECTS. 

society,  and  often,  when  her  husband  would  object  to  her 
extravagance,  and  reproach  her  for  passing  her  time  in  idle- 
ness, she  would  say  :  "  Sir,  you  must  know  that  I  am  a  born 
Bottwell,  that  my  ancestors  were  the  first  settlers  in  this 
city,  and  that  I  am  used  to  live  in  such  a  fashionable  style. 
We  had  our  servants  and  our  carriages,  and  you  can  see  my 
mother  this  very  day  out  on  the  avenue  in  her  carriage, 
driving  a  span  of  beautiful  horses.  You  ought  to  be  careful 
about  what  you  say,  sir  !  I  am  a  born  Bottwell,  while  you, 
sir,  are  only  La  Monte,  whose  mother  was  a  washwoman." 

In  vain  did  the  husband  plead  to  his  wife  not  to  use  such 
language  in  the  presence  of  their  children,  two  daughters 
and  one  son  ;  in  vain  did  he  contend  that  through  his  man- 
agement only  of  the  affairs  of  the  bank  its  shares  had  ad- 
vanced fully  thirty  per  cent.,  which  made  her  father  so  much 
richer ;  in  vain  did  he  illustrate  that  a  woman  could  be  a 
washwoman  and  still  a  lady. 

But  Mrs.  La  Monte  was  proud  of  being  a  born  Bottwell, 
whose  mother  can  be  seen  daily  on  the  avenue  in  an  elegant 
equipage,  and  he,  her  husband,  whose  mother  had  been  a 
washwoman  to  make  a  living,  should  bend  his  knees  in 
humility  before  her,  the  born  Bottwell.  This  was  the  sore 
and  dark  spot  in  Mr.  John  James  La  Monte's  life.  It  made 
him  feel  very  unhappy,  and  whenever  his  wife  commenced 
holding  up  before  him  that  she  was  a  born  Bottwell,  and  he 
only  a  washwoman's  son,  he  took  his  gun,  went  into  the 
rear  of  his  house,  and  commenced  target-shooting ;  and  as 
his  wife  almost  daily  alluded  to  the  difference  in  her  caste 
and  family,  he  had  sufficient  practice  in  target-shooting. 
He  had  become  one  of  the  most  expert  shots  in  the  country, 
and  would  take  a  nail,  stick  it  in  a  tree,  and,  at  a  distance 
of  two  hundred  feet,  drive  the  nail  in  the  tree  with  the  ball. 

The  unhappy  husband  felt  that  he  had  to  make  an  end  to 
his  wife's  upbraidings,  and  quietly  went  to  work  to  find  out 
who  the  ancestors  of  this  proud  family  had  been.  Indeed, 
it  gave  him  much  pleasure  and  gratification  to  learn,  that  the 
mother  of  all  the  Bottwells  had  been  a  rag-picker,  and  old 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  151 

Mr.  Bottwell  himself,  had  driven  a  team  of  dogs  through 
the  city,  gathering  bones  and  other  kitchen  refuse,  which 
were  carefully  assorted  and  sold  to  soap  factories.  Under 
the  careful  management  of  old  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bottwell,  this 
picking  rags  and  gathering  bones  became  quite  a  business, 
and  this  was  the  foundation  of  the  great  wealth  of  the  Bott- 
well family,  who  would  sneer  at  the  washwoman's  son,  and 
consider  everybody  beneath  them. 

Mr.  John  James  La  Monte,  with  these  facts  in  his  posses- 
sion, quietly  wrote  out  an  article,  headed : 

"  Reminiscence  of  some  of  our  Old  Families" 
By  an  Early  Settler. 

He  vividly  described  the  hardships  which  some  had  to 
endure,  in  order  to  keep  the  wolf  from  the  door,  and  particu- 
larly how  old  Mother  Bottwell  looked  with  her  sack  on  her 
shoulder,  and  a  stick  with  a  sharp  hook,  in  her  hand,  pick- 
ing out  of  the  gutter  every  bit  of  rag  or  paper,  and  with 
what  eagerness  she  went  through  ash  piles,  and  other  heaps 
of  refuse,  to  find  something  for  the  sack  on  her  shoulder. 

He  went  on  to  say  how  old  Mr.  Bottwell  looked  with  his 
team  of  dogs,  and  how  he  had  to  help  the  dogs  to  pull  up 
hill  the  wagon  with  its  greasy  and  well-filled  barrel.  The 
writer  stated,  at  the  same  time,  that  he  did  not  mention 
this  out  of  disrespect  for  the  good  old  couple,  but  for  the 
benefit  of  their  descendants,  who  should  know  their  origin 
and  ancestry,  and  not  feel  so  haughty  and  overbearing 
toward  their  fellow-men. 

La  Monte  managed  to  have  this  article  inserted,  as  a  con- 
tribution, in  one  of  the  morning  papers,  which  was  deliv- 
ered at  his  house,  and  which  Mrs.  La  Monte  always  read. 

In  the  evening,  when  the  husband  returned  from  his  busi- 
ness, he  found  his  wife  greatly  changed  in  her  manners 
toward  him.  She  kissed  him  with  more  ardency  and  invited 
him  to  make  calls  with  her  on  several  of  her  old  school 
friends,  a  thing  which  she  had  never  done  before. 


152  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

"  That  article  of  mine,"  chuckled  the  husband,  "  was  a 
good  dose.  How  careful  my  wife  placed  the  paper  out  of 
my  sight  and  reach,  so  that  I  should  not  read  it ;  and  having 
once  commenced  to  make  researches  in  regard  to  ancestry,  I 
will  now  try  to  find  out  who  my  ancestors  were." 

With  the  same  energy  and  perseverance,  that  made  him 
what  he  was,  he  set  to  work  and  was  delighted  to  find  that 
he  was  of  French  nobility,  that  his  ancestors  were  the 
Counts  La  Monte,  who  had  distinguished  themselves  on  the 
field  of  battle  as  well  as  in  the  cabinet  of  State ;  and  more 
than  that,  his  fourth  generations  of  cousins  were  living 
under  the  very  same  name  and  title,  in  possession  of  the  old 
family  castle  and  estates. 

He  did  not  hesitate  long,  and  wrote  another  article,  under 
the  same  heading : 

"Reminiscence  of  some  of  our  Old  Families,  continued." 
By  an  Early  Settler. 

He  described  the  efforts  the  Count  Francis  La  Monte,  who 
had  been  banished  from  his  country,  had  made  in  order  to 
support  his  family ;  how  he  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land, 
which  he  successfully  cultivated;  how  the  title  deed  had 
proved  to  be  valueless,  and  how  the  family,  after  many 
tedious  and  unsuccessful  lawsuits,  had  been  ruined.  He 
went  on  to  say,  that  the  mother  of  the  present  La  Monte 
had  been  a  washwoman,  and  supported  herself  and  children 
by  hard,  yet  honest  work.  How  she  had  set  such  good 
example  to  her  children,  and  sacrificed  all  to  give  them  a 
good  education  ;  and  that  John  James  La  Monte,  the  efficient 
cashier,  under  whose  skillful  management  the  stocks  of  the 
bank  had  so  greatly  advanced,  was  the  son  of  that  very 
washwoman,  and  that  the  present  Count  Pierre  La  Monte, 
Senator  of  France,  was  a  cousin  to  the  La  Montes  in 
America. 

The  same  skillful  management  on  the  part  of  the  husband 
made  the  article  appear  as  a  contribution  in  the  same 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  153 

paper,  which  his  wife  read  every  morning,  and  she  did  read 
the  article  once,  twice,  thrice,  and  was  overjoyed  to  find 
that  her  husband  was  a  nobleman  by  birth. 

In  the  evening,  when  her  husband  came  home,  his  wife 
rushed  toward  him,  embraced  him  and  called  him  Count 
John  James  La  Monte. 

"  How  is  the  noble  Count,  my  husband  ?" 

Mr.  La  Monte  pretended  not  to  understand  what  his  wife 
meant.  She  told  him  of  what  she  had  read  in  the  paper. 

"  There  must  be  a  mistake,"  said  he,  putting  on  a  serious 
face. 

"No,  there  is  not,"  and  Mrs.  La  Monte  brought  the  paper 
and  read  aloud  the  article  referred  to. 

"And  what  of  it,"  said  Mr.  La  Monte,  "I  am  neither  better 
nor  worse  for  that.  I  am  an  American  citizen,  honored  and 
trusted  by  my  fellow-men,  and  that  is  title  enough  for  me." 

"Yes,  said  the  wife,  "  it  may  be  title  enough  for  you,  but 
I'd  rather  have  you  to  be  a  Count;  I  always  thought  that  I 
was  born  to  marry  a  Count.  I  married  a  Count  without 
knowing  it."  She  again  embraced  and  kissed  him,  calling 
him  "  Count  La  Monte,  my  noble  husband!" 

Mr.  La  Monte,  though  his  wife  had  ceased  to  annoy  him 
by  continually  boasting  of  her  ancestry,  did  not  gain  much 
by  the  result  of  his  researches.  Contrary,  his  troubles  now 
really  began.  Mrs.  La  Monte  was  determined  that  her 
daughters  should  not  marry,  except  a  Baron,  Count,  Lord  or 
Duke.  "  Their  mother  being  a  born  Bottwell,  and  their 
father  a  Count,  why  should  they  marry  plebeians,  though 
they  be  American  citizens  of  good  moral  habits,  and  having 
a  useful  occupation." 

The  husband  reasoned  in  vain.  He  explained  that  titles 
were  humbug;  that  they  belonged  to  the  past  ages,  and 
were  against  the  spirit  of  the  present  age;  that  the  only  title 
now  existing  was  the  one  of  merit,  and  that  the  titled  no- 
bility had  become  so  degenerated  in  principle,  as  well  as  in 
physical  respects,  that  marriage  with  them  should  be  avoided. 

But  Mrs.  La  Monte,  as  a  born  Bottwell,  could  not  be  per- 


154  OUR    PROSPECTS. 

suaded.  She  wished  to  see  her  daughters  married  to  some 
titled  noblemen,  and  discouraged  every  overture  that  was 
made  by  young  men  for  the  hand  of  her  daughters.  The 
husband  grew  uneasy  on  account  of  it.  He  commenced  cor- 
responding with  his  European  relatives,  and  gave  them  a 
sketch  of  the  family  tree.  His  letters  were  promptly 
answered,  and  he  invited  two  sons  of  Count  Pierre  La  Monte, 
Senator  of  France,  to  honor  him  with  a  visit,  and  that  very 
New  Year's  eve  he  expected  the  distant  cousins  Count  Louis 
La  Monte  and  Count  Murat  La  Monte.  He  was  not  satisfied 
with  himself  that  things  had  taken  such  a  turn,  now  that 
those  Counts  had  arrived,  for  he  had  no  confidence  in  titled 
nobility,  and  had  a  presentiment  of  evil. 

He  reached  his  house.  A  servant  was  waiting  at  the  gate, 
opening  it  promptly,  with  a  respectful  bow,  which  showed 
that  he  feared  and  respected  his  master ;  for  a  man  who 
can  say  so  well,  "wo,"  his  "?/es"  is  of  greater  conse- 
quence. Everything  around  the  premises  was  in  the  best 
order :  every  tree  was  carefully  wrapped  in  straw  to  protect 
it  from  the  severe  cold  ;  all  the  walks  through  the  park-like 
front  and  rear  yards,  which  comprised  about  five  acres  of 
ground,  were  cleared  from  snow ;  the  stables  and  out-houses 
were  beautifully  built  and  kept  in  the  neatest  order.  The 
bowling  alley  and  target-shooting  grounds  were  not  far  from 
the  house,  and  under  the  direct  supervision  of  Mr.  La  Monte. 
He  liked  to  practice  in  both,  and  encouraged  his  son  and 
daughters  to  do  the  same.  The  consequence  was  that  they 
enjoyed  good  health,  besides  becoming  really  experts  in 
shooting  and  nine-pin  playing. 

Mr.  La  Monte  ran  over  the  grounds  quickly  to  see  if  all 
was  in  order.  He  entered  also  the  stables  and  the  carriage 
house,  but  great  was  his  surprise  to  see  there  an  elegant  and 
elaborately  finished  new  carriage. 

"Jim!"  called  he  loudly.  The  coachman  trembled  at  the 
tone  of  his  master's  voice. 

"  Sir,  to  your  service  !  Anything  wrong  ?  ventured  the 
frightened  Jim. 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  155 

"When  was  this  new  carriage  delivered?"  demanded  Mr. 
La  Monte,  sternly, 

"  This  afternoon.  Also  a  new  set  of  harness,  trimmed 
with  gold." 

The  face  of  Mr.  La  Monte  became  livid  with  rage,  and  he 
exclaimed : 

"You  blockhead,  did  I  not  instruct  you  never  to  say  more 
than  just  what  you  were  asked?  I  did  not  ask  you  any  thing 
about  the  harness;  I  asked  you  only  about  the  carriage. 
Now  go  to  your  work,  and  in  future  remember  that  you  are 
to  answer  only  what  you  are  asked." 

The  man  was  glad  to  leave  the  presence  of  his  employer, 
for  he  knew  when  Mr.  La  Monte  was  angry  he  could  swear 
and  scold  like  a  trooper. 

"  So,  my  wife  ordered,  after  all,  a  new  carriage,  and  even 
a  new  and  costly  harness,  against  my  positive  will  and  order, 
and  all  this  because  my  cousins,  the  Counts,  are  coming. 
This  is  what  I  call  paying  dear  for  having  the  honor  of  a  visit 
by  Counts.  I  had  a  kind  of  foreboding,  and  have  seen  only  the 
beginning  of  it.  I  must  be  careful  of  everything  I  now  say, 
and  keep  calm.  Fools  allow  themselves  to  be  carried  away 
by  anger,  and  quarrel.  Wise  men  suppress  their  wrath,  and 
rule  then  as  they  please." 

He  entered  the  house,  and  was  gracefully  and  very  kindly 
received  by  his  wife,  who  looked  at  him  sharply  to  ascertain 
whether  he  was  angry,  for  she  knew  that  he  had  been  in  the 
carriage  house,  and  seen  the  new  carriage,  which  she  had 
bought  against  his  order. 

"You  look  tired,  my  noble  husband,"  said  Mrs.  La  Monte, 
in  her  most  affectionate  tone.  "  How  have  you  been,  to- 
day?" 

"I  am  somewhat  tired,  but  my  health  is  good.  The  visit 
of  the  Counts  only  worries  me,  and  I  sincerely  hope  that  their 
visit  will  be  mutually  pleasant,"  answered  the  husband, 
thoughtfully. 

"  1  do  not  see  why  you  should  have  any  misgivings  about 


156  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

the  visits  of  your  cousins,  they  are  noblemen  and  will  do  us 
honor,"  observed  the  wife. 

"  They  may  be  only  noblemen  by  name  and  not  in  fact," 
replied  Mr.  La  Monte. 

"I  think  I  know  why  you  feel  uneasy  and  dread  the  visit 
of  our  distinguished  visitors.  It  must  be  that  you  apprehend 
that  they  will  cause  you  great  expense,  and  these  thoughts 
make  you  gloomy.  But  I  assure  you,  my  noble  husband,  that 
our  household  expenses  will  not  be  larger  than  usual ;  the 
only  expense  their  visit  will  have  entailed,  is  the  new 
carriage  and  harness  I  have  purchased,  which  cost  only 
two  thousand  dollars  beside  the  old  carriage  and  harness." 

"  You  agreed  to  pay  two  thousand  dollars  and  give  up  our 
old  carriage  and  harness  which  were  as  good  as  new?"  ex- 
claimed the  husband,  greatly  excited. 

"Don't  be  angry,  my  noble  John,  I  know  it  is  a  high 
price,  but  the  carriage  and  harness  are  splendid.  Believe 
me,  as  a  born  Bottwell,  I  am  a  good  judge  of  carriages  and 
harness.  My  dear  mother  always  did  pride  herself  on  her 
equipage,  and  she  was  right;  there  is  nothing  that  gives  a 
family  such  distinguished  appearance  as  a  grand  carriage 
and  superb  horses  in  splendid  harness.  It  looks  really  royal 
and  is  just  what  a  born  Bottwell,  whose  husband  is  a  Count 
by  succession,  should  possess,"  said  Mrs.  La  Monte,  in  her 
most  graceful  manner. 

"Nonsense,"  responded  the  husband. 

"Don't  say  nonsense,  my  noble  husband,  for  to  have  an 
elegant  carriage  and  beautiful  horses  in  rich  harness,  is  not 
nonsense;  it  is  something  grand  and  very  stylish." 

"  My  word  nonsense  does  not  refer  to  your  remarks  about 
the  horses,  carriage  and  harness.  It  is  well  enough  to  possess 
them  if  one  can  easily  afford  it.  Nonsense  referred  only  to 
your  words  and  the  stress  }TOU  put  on  of  being  a  born  Bott- 
well and  I  a  Count  by  succession,"  remarked  the  husband, 
quite  sarcastically. 

"Now,  my  noble  husband,"  said  Mrs.  La  Monte,  in  her 
most  tender  and  graceful  tone  and  manner,  "  you  will  not  be 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  157 

angry  with  mo  if  I  tell  you  what  I  intend  to  do.  I  am  going 
to  call  on  my  father  and  request  him  to  present  me  with  two 
thousand  dollars  to  pay  the  difference  on  that  new  carriage 
and  harness." 

"I  am  glad  you  told  me  of  your  intentions.  Spare  your- 
self the  trouble  and  humiliation,  for  your  father  is  a  practical 
man,  who  looks  at  matters  in  the  proper  light.  He  will  say, 
'Theodosia,  my  child,  if  your  husband  was  opposed  to  buy- 
ing a  new  carriage  and  harness,  you  had  no  business  to  do  it. 
It  is  the  duty  of  a  good  and  obedient  wife  to  be  guided  by 
her  husband,  especially  where  such  a  matter  as  money  is 
concerned.  I  can  do  nothing  for  you ;  you  have  your  husband, 
he  is  your  protector,  and  if  you  are  not  unreasonable,  I  have 
no  doubt  that  he  will  provide  for  your  comfort  to  the  best  of 
his  ability.'  " 

"  Mr.  La  Monte,  I  beg  to  differ  with  you.  My  father  is  a 
Bottwell.  He  will  not  treat  his  daughter  in  such  a  manner," 
said  Mrs.  La  Monte,  proudly. 

"1  know  your  father  is  a  Bottwell,  but  he  does  not  pride 
himself  on  his  wealth.  He  prides  himself  of  being  a  good 
successful  business  man,"  remarked  the  husband,  meaningly. 

"  I  do  not  understand  your  remarks,"  said  Mrs.  La  Monte, 
thoughtfully,  "but  they  have  a  deep  meaning,  no  doubt;  you 
never  utter  a  word  unless  you  mean  something  by  it;  I  will 
reflect  on  your  advice." 

"Yes,  my  wife,  reflect;  reflection  makes  us  wise,  reflection 
would  have  convinced  you  that  the  old  carriage  with  the  old 
harness  would  have  answered  much  better  than  the  new,  for 
when  the  Counts  will  see  our  new  carriage  and  the  new  har- 
ness they  will  think  'this  family  has  never  had  a  carriage 
and  horses  before,  and  bought  this  new  one  in  honor  of  our 
visit.'  How  much  better  would  it  have  been  to  have  kept 
our  old  carriage  and  harness,  which  looked  besides  more 
respectable  by  being  used  as  the  old  family  carriage,  and 
people  of  the  old  country  observe  such  little  matters  more 
than  we  are  giving  them  credit  for." 

Mrs.  La  Monte  felt  sad.     The  words,  and  the  manner  in 


158  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

which  they  were  spoken  by  her  husband,  convinced  her 
that  the  old  carriage  and  harness  would  have  answered  a 
better  purpose  than  the  new.  She  was  now  very  sorry  that 
she  made  the  exchange,  paying  two  thousand  dollars  besides, 
and  admitted  to  herself  that  her  father  would  not  have 
presented  her,  under  those  circumstances,  with  two  thousand 
dollars  to  pay  for  the  carriage,  but  that  he  would  have 
spoken  to  her  as  her  husband  said. 

Mr.  La  Monte  noticed  her  silence,  and  could  readily  guess 
the  thoughts  which  passed  through  his  wife's  mind. 

"Not  only  would  the  old  carriage  and  harness  have  an- 
swered a  better  purpose,  but  we  would  have  saved  two 
thousand  dollars.  These  two  thousand  dollars,  with  the  ac- 
cumulated interest,  would  have  amounted,  in  ten  years,  to 
four  thousand  dollars,  a  snug  little  sum  to  give  to  our  son, 
who,  by  that  time,  will  be  ready  to  start  for  himself  into 
business,"  said  the  husband,  in  his  forcible,  convincing 
manner. 

"  I  am  really  sorry  that  I  have  acted  in  this  matter  against 
your  will  and  counsel.  I  have  a  good  mind  to  dri?e  down 
town  in  your  buggy  and  see  whether  I  can  not  get  my  old 
carriage  and  harness  back,  and  return  the  new  one,  even  if  I 
have  to  pay  some  consideration  for  the  trouble  I  have 
given  to  the  carriage  and  saddle-makers,"  said  Mrs.  La 
Monte,  in  great  sincerity,  turning  toward  the  bell  to  sum- 
mon a  servant  and  give  the  necessary  order. 

"Do  not  undertake  to  get  the  old  carriage  and  harness 
back.  It  would  be  a  vain  effort,  as  the  carriage-maker  and 
saddler  have,  by  this  time,  included  the  profits  on  their  sales 
in  this  year's  gain,  and  would  not  feel  inclined  to  give  up 
what  they  made.  A  bargain  is  a  bargain,  and  why  should 
they  undo  it?  Dealing  is  not  a  child  playing,"  remarked 
the  husband.  "Let  it  remain  now  as  it  is,  but,  in  future, 
make  it  the  rule  of  your  life  not  to  do  anything  against  the 
wish  or  advice  of  your  husband.  It  will  save  you  from  mor- 
tifications, unnecessary  expenditures,  and  humiliations,"  re- 
marked the  husband,  in  a  calm  tone. 


A   TALE    OF    REAL   LIFE.  159 

Mrs.  La  Monte  blushed.  She  felt  angry  with  herself,  and 
thought  that  her  husband  was  right  in  his  views,  that  he 
knew  the  ways  of  the  world,  and  that  she  ought  to  obey 
him,  and  she  concluded  to  do  so  henceforth  in  everything — 
but  her  daughters  should  not  marry  citizens  of  their  native 
land. 

"  No,  they  shall  become  titled  ladies,  or  remain  single  for 
life." 

"Where  are  the  children,  and  what  are  they  doing?"  asked 
the  husband. 

"  Winfred  is  in  his  room  busy  with  his  geological  studies. 
He  is  filling  up  the  room  with  all  kinds  of  sandstones, 
chalks,  iron,  ores,  and  coal,  and  so  intensely  is  he  occupied 
in  the  formations  of  the  various  mineral  objects  that  he  does 
not  speak  to  any  one,  and  does  hardly  take  time  to  eat  his 
meals." 

"  This  shows  that  he  enjoys  his  studies.  They  are  very 
interesting,  and  will  no  doubt  prove  profitable,  to  him  in  his 
advancing  years,"  observed  the  father. 

"  Eosalind  is  still  very  gloomy,  and  Yiola  is  dressing  to 
receive  her  noble  cousins,  the  Counts  Louis  and  Murat  La 
Monte." 

<:  Rosalind  is  still  very  gloomy!"  exclaimed  the  husband. 
"It  is  a  riddle  to  me  why  she  is  so  down-cast.  Can  you. 
solve  it,  Theodobia?" 

.     The  wife  made  no  answer,  and  looked  perplexed.     The 
husband  noticed  it  and  said : 

"  You  do  not  answer  my  question,  and  no  answer  is  also 
an  answer.  I  take  it  for  granted,  therefore,  that  you  know 
the  cause  of  Rosalind's  grief,  for  a  grief  it  is,  whether  real 
or  imaginary." 

"  I  think  her  grief  is  real  and  deep,  for  she  loves  a  young 
man  whom  she  knows  we  will  never  consent  that  she  shall 
marry,"  observed  Mrs.  La  Monte. 

"  What !  my  daughter  Rosalind  in  love  with  a  young  man 
whom  she  knows  we  would  not  consent  that  she  should 


160  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

marry !"  ejaculated  the  father.     "  Pray,  wife,  tell   me  tho 

name  of  that  young  man.     Do  I  know  him?" 

•    "His  name  is  Charles  Hunting,  the  son  of  Mr.  Edward 

Hunting." 

Tbe  husband  and  father  jumped  up  from  his  chair  as  if  a 
rifle  bullet  had  pierced  his  heart,  and  exclaimed : 

"  I  implore  you,  say  no  more.  It  is  enough  for  me  to 
know  that  our  beautiful  Eosalind,  the  gentlest  maiden  ever 
born,  should  love  Charles  Hunting,  that  demoralized  young 
man  who  never  has  done  an  honest  day's  work  in  his  life, 
and  who,  though  young  in  years,  is  old  in  vices  and  bad 
deeds.  Better,  far  better,  that  my  beloved  daughter  Rosa- 
lind should  die  of  a  broken  heart  than  become  the  wife  of 
Charles  Hunting,  the  companion  of  the  very  dreg  of  society." 

He  nervously  strode  up  and  down  the  room,  and  tearing 
out  his  hair,  he  muttered : 

"  What  a  blow  !  what  a  blow  !" 

He  stopped  suddenly,  and  said  to  himself: 

"  Courage  and  calmness  enable  men  to  tame  ferocious 
tigers  and  lions.  Courage  and  calmness  shall  enable  me  to 
cure  Rosalind  of  her  love,  by  convincing  her  that  the  man 
she  loves  is  not  worthy  of  her  love." 

The  door  opened  and  both  daughters  made  their  appear- 
ance. Rosalind,  tho  oldest,  was  tall  and  graceful.  Her  fea- 
tures plainly  indicated  intellectual  development,  a  kind  heart, 
yet  firmness  of  purpose.  Her  eyes  were  large  and  of  a  dark 
and  lustrous  blue.  Her  hair  was  of  a  light  color,  and  taste- 
fully adorned  with  a  natural  rose.  She  wore  no  jewelry  or 
ornaments,  except  a  narrow  piece  of  velvet  ribbon,  which 
she  wore  around  her  swan-like  neck,  fastened  by  an  anchor. 
Her  whole  attire  was  plain  and  unassuming,  but  even  this, 
hightened  by  her  brilliant  complexion,  made  her  appear 
truly  fascinating  and  lovely. 

Viola  was  not  quite  as  tall  as  her  sister,  but  what  she 
lacked  in  tallness,  she  made  up  in  roundness  of  figure ;  her 
waist  was  narrow ;  her  bust  full  and  supported  by  compact 
shoulders  and  plumb  round  arms j  her  neck  was  slender;  her 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  161 

face  was  round  as  an  apple,  with  a  dimple  on  her  chin  ;  her 
lips  were  red  as  coral,  but  too  thin  to  be  called  beautiful ; 
her  mouth  was  also  too  large;  her  eyes  were  black,  her  hair 
and  eye-lashes  of  the  same  color,  which  contrasted  well 
with  her  alabaster-like  complexion,  giving  her  a  charming 
freshness.  Unlike  her  sister,  she  was  elaborately  dressed  in 
the  most  costly  garments  and  of  the  most  fashionable  cut. 
She  wore  diamond  earrings,  a  large  diamond  broach  fastened 
a  lace  collar  of  great  value,  a  gold  necklace,  set  with  dia- 
monds, with  a  gold  acorn,  a  heart  and  an  anchor  set  in 
pearls,  were  attached  to  the  necklace  as  charms  and  graced 
her  neck  ;  her  fingers  were  ornamented  with  clusterous  dia- 
mond rings;  she  had  a  bouquet  in  her  hand,  and  when 
entering  made  a  profound  bow  before  her  father. 

"This  is  a  bow  of  deep  humility,"  said  the  father,  with 
displeasure. 

"It  is  a  bow  which  I  intended  to  make  before  my  august 
cousins,  the  Counts  Louis  and  Murat  La  Monte,"  answered 
Miss  Yiola,  archly. 

"  Such  a  bow  is  not  becoming  to  an  American  girl,  whose 
manners  ought  to  be  graceful  and  plain,  in  harmony  with 
our  republican  mode  of  living;  such  a  bow  is  no  doubt  ex- 
pected in  the  land  of  royalty,  but  in  this  land  of  the  free, 
where  every  one  is  a  sovereign,  a  bow  should  be  only  a  bow 
of  graceful  civility,  and  not  a  bow  of  humility,"  observed 
the  father,  earnestly. 

"  I  am  very  sorry,  pa,  that  you  do  not  like  the  bow  I  made. 
I  have  been  practicing  it  before  the  mirror  the  whole  day, 
and  now  you  declare  it  unbecoming,"  and  she  made  another 
one  of  those  profound  bows  before  her  mother,  who,  on  the 
contrary,  was  much  pleased  and  said  : 

"  Viola,  I  am  delighted  with  the  bow  you  make;  the  grand 
ladies  of  honor  could  not  make  a  more  graceful  and  finished 
bow  before  their  royal  mistress,  the  Empress  of  France,  than 
you  made  now ;  keep  on  practicing  it,  for  I  hope  to  live  and  see 
you  well  established  in  one  of  the  ducal  castles  of  France, 
and  even  appointed  as  the  first  lady  of  honor  to  the  empress, 


1G2  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

wielding  an  influence  that  will  be  felt  not  only  in  Europe, 
but  over  the  whole  world." 

At  these  words  the  black  eyes  of  Viola  shone  brightly,  her 
thin  lips  became  somewhat  pale  and  tightly  compressed,  and 
she  exclaimed : 

"Oh,  ma,  how  happy,  how  very  happy  I  will  then  be! 
And  when  you  and  pa  will  visit  me,  how  grandly  I  will  re- 
ceive you !  My  carriage  must  be  of  gold  and  my  servants 
dressed  in  purple  velvet,  trimmed  with  gold  borders,  a 
chapeau  with  gold  fringes  on  their  heads.  My  establishment 
shall  be  royal  in  all  its  appointments,"  remarked  Yiola,  in  a 
matter-of-fact  tone  and  manner. 

The  mother  nodded  approvingly  to  the  remark  of  her 
daughter  Yiola,  and  thought  "  the  blood  of  the  Bottwells  pre- 
dominates in  her  veins,  she  will  be  a  baroness,  a  countess, 
or  even  a  duchess.  What  a  happy  mother  am  I  to  have 
such  a  daughter !" 

The  father  looked  and  listened  carefully  to  what  his 
daughter  Viola  said,  and  felt  grieved  at  the  display  of  so 
much  vanity.  He  said  to  himself:  "  It  is  one  of  the  mis- 
fortunes of  life,  if  husband  and  wife  do  not  co-operate  in  the 
education  of  their  children.  My  wife  is  preparing  Viola  for 
a  life  of  disappointments,  which  will  end  in  misery.  I  must 
rescue  her  at  every  sacrifice,  or  she  is  lost.  I  hope  that  those 
foreign  cousins  of  mine  are  real  gentlemen,  and  not  wolves 
in  sheep  skins." 

"  Kosalind,  why  do  you  look  at  me  so,  without  saying  a 
word?"  asked  Viola,  haughtily. 

"  I  look  at  your  toilet ;  you  have  said  so  much  that  you 
hardly  would  listen  to  what  I  would  say  were  I  to  speak," 
remarked  Eosalind,  in  a  sweet  but  sad  voice. 

"  I  always  listen  to  what  you  say,  although  I  can  not  agree 
•with  you  in  your  opinions,  for  you  were  not  born  for  the 
great  world,  you  were  born  for  the  cloister,  and  where  I  fear 
you  will  end  your  days,"  said  Viola,  sharply. 

"Listen,  then,  but  do  not  get  angry  at  me,  for  I  mean  to 
speak  plain.  Your  toilet  represents  you  as  an  overdressed 


A  TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  163 

girl,  who  puts  on  all  the  plumes  she  possesses.  Look  at 
your  costly  lace  collar,  pinned  with  that  heavy  diamond 
broach,  and  on  that  same  lace  collar  rests  your  heavy  gold 
necklace,  and  the  charms  of  your  necklace  cover  almost  your 
diamond  broach.  Your  hair,  too,  is  not — " 

':  Please,  say  nothing  of  my  hair ;  my  hair  is  well  ar- 
ranged— it  suits  me,"  said  Viola,  interrupting  her  sister 
Eosalind. 

"  I  will  then  say  nothing  more  as  regards  your  toilet,  but  I 
will  say  that  you  are  as  vain  as  a  peacock,  and  your  dreams 
of  the  future  are  as  vain  as  they  are  foolish  ;  for  I  consider  it 
foolish  to  bend  one's  mind  and  energy  on  obtaining  glitter  and 
outward  show,  and  to  bend  the  knee  before  titled  personages, 
whose  ancestors  were  either  flatterers  to  kings  and  queens, 
or  murderers  on  a  great  scale,  who  could  slaughter  men  by 
the  thousands,  and  help  to  blot  out  a  whole  nation  from  the 
face  of  the  earth  ;  and  as  a  reward  of  their  flattery  or  their 
great  butchery,  they  received  titles,  and  their  children,  who 
bear  the  titles,  would  this  very  day  slaughter  in  cold  blood, 
thousands  and  thousands  of  their  fellow-men  in  order  to 
retain  their  titles  and  their  ill-gotten  rights,  to  tax  and  to 
live  on  the  fat  of  the  land." 

"Rosalind,  Eosalind!"  exclaimed  the  mother,  "  what 
language  !  I  hope  that  you  will  keep  your  thoughts  to  your- 
self, and  not  utter  them  in  the  presence  of  your  cousins,  the 
noble  Counts  Louis  and  Murat  La  Monte." 

"  Proceed,  my  dear  child,"  said  the  father,  encouragingly. 

"  Yes,"  said  Eosalind,  almost  speaking  to  herself,  "  the 
titled  nobility  have  been  and  are  the  blighting  spirit  of 
human  progress  and  civilization  ;  they  have  and  do  rob  still 
the  people  of  their  rightful  possessions ;  they  rob  them  of 
their  sons,  to  play  soldier  for  their  amusement,  and  so  to 
stand  in  the  way  of  liberty,  and  at  their  commands  and 
mere  whims  are  let  loose  as  so  many  demons  to  dance  the 
carnival  of  death.  Nations  are  plunged  into  mourning 
and  the  whole  world  suffers  on  account  of  the  whims  and 


164  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

follies  of  the  titled  nobility — and  still  nobility  is  fatted,  flat- 
tered and  courted. 

"And  would  you,  my  sister,  like  to  be  one  of  them? 
Would  you  like  to  have  a  vehicle  of  gold,  purchased  by  the 
sweat  of  the  brow  of  the  people?  Would  you  like  to  have 
a  servant  in  livery  behind  your  carriage,  and  some  one 
riding  in  front,  announcing  your  ladyship's  coming?" 

Viola  smiled  and  nodded  her  assent. 

"  And  you  would  Jike  to  rule  and  lead  an  idle  life  of  glitter 
and  falsehood  ?" 

Yiola  frowned  at  these  words. 

ir  You  need  not  look  so  angry  at  me,  for  you  can  not  deny 
that  such  is  your  hope  and  your  expectation,"  said  Kosalind, 
in  a  firm  yet  sweet  voice. 

"  What  right  have  yon  to  live  on  the  hard-earned  means 
of  others,  and  to  give  nothing  but  bad  examples  in  return  ? 
for  to  dress  as  extravagantly  and  to  live  as  expensively  as  you 
would  live  if  you  could,  and  to  be  idle  beside,  is  truly  a  bad 
example. 

"  What  right  have  you  to  detain  men  as  servants,  and  to 
mark  them  with  the  dress  of  servitude?  Man  has  been  cre- 
ated to  cultivate  the  earth,  and  to  make  a  paradise  of  it ;  he 
has  not  been  created  to  be  a  servant  in  livery,  and  to  play 
the  soldier,  and  destroy  what  peaceable  citizens  have  culti- 
vated and  built." 

"  You  would  then  have  no  nobility  and  soldiery,  but  cor- 
ruption and  anarchy,"  replied  Viola,  with  energy. 

"Look  at  our  glorious  country!"  exclaimed  Kosalind. 

"  Well,  look  at  it !  look  at  it  as  it  is,  with  impartiality,  and 
you  will  admit  that  corruption  is  no  stranger  in  our  land,"  re- 
sponded Viola,  promptly. 

"  I  admit  that  there  is  some  corruption,  but  whatever  there 
is,  has  been  imported  from  abroad,  like  the  fashions  and  dis- 
sipations practiced  by  the  titled  nobility  of  the  old  world. 
But  we  have  no  anarchy  here,  and  never  will  have  as  long 
as  our  free  press  and  our  free  public  schools  exist ;  they  are 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  165 

the  bulwarks  of  liberty  and  public  order,"  Raid  Rosalind,  en- 
thusiastically. 

"  But  you  admit,"  said  Yiola,  "  that  there  is  corruption  in 
this  land,  which  you  call  a  glorious  one." 

"  I  admit  it ;  but  even  the  sun  is  not  free  from  spots.  The 
land  of  our  birth  is  a  glorious  one,  but  its  glory  is  not  com- 
plete, yet  it  will  be  complete  as  soon  as  woman  is  vested  with 
the  right  of  suffrage  ;  for  then  the  majority  of  our  citizens 
will  not  be  indifferent  as  to  who  gets  into  office ;  the  whole 
people  will  be  represented,  and  impartiality  will  rule  su- 
preme." 

"  Rosalind,"  exclaimed  the  mother,  "please,  spare  me  from 
hearing  your  views,  or  rather,  your  notions  of  woman's 
rights,  or  woman's  suffrage.  I  think  it  not  to  be  lady-like, 
even  to  speak  of  it.  Women  are  well  enough  off  as  they  are, 
and  you  would  rob  men  of  their  prerogatives,  and  women  of 
their  womanhood.  Rosalind,  I  am  almost  ashamed  of  you, 
and  if  you  will  not  cease  thinking  and  talking  of  such  un- 
becoming matters,  I'll  become  old  before  my  time." 

"  Mother,  I  will  not  speak  any  more,  in  your  presence,  of 
woman's  suffrage,  although  I  sincerely  believe  it  to  be  the 
duty  of  every  woman  in  the  land.  I  beg  to  differ  with  you 
when  you  say  that  women  are  well  enough  off  as  they  are. 
The  press  and  the  statistics  of  the  country  show  that  thou- 
sands and  thousands  of  women  are  making  only  a  poor  liv- 
ing by  their  labor,  that  thousands  and  thousands  of  women 
are  outraged  and  outlawed  bythe  viciousness  of  men  and  the 
custom  of  society,  that  thousands  and  thousands  of  women  die 
before  their  time  in  consequence  of  poorly-paid  labor  and  neg- 
lect. My  heart  beats  in  sympathy  for  the  unfortunate  ones 
of  ray  sex,  and  also  those  of  the  sterner  sex,  who  too  suffer 
through  the  sufferings  and  wrongs  of  those  of  whom  they 
are,  and  of  whom  they  should  be  a  part." 

"I  command  you  to  put  an  end  to  your  reasonings  and  ar- 
guments. You  make  my  head  ache,"  exclaimed  the  mother. 

Rosalind  said  no  more.     Tears  gathered  in  her  eyes,  and 


166  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

mournfully  she  turned  to  her  father,  who  rose  from  his  chair, 
and  kissed  her  brow,  saying: 

"  You  have  my  sympathy  in  your  great  and  noble  thoughts. 
Try  gradually  to  win  your  mother's  sympathy,  too." 

"Thanks,  my  noble  father,"  and  Rosalind  left  the  room. 

Winfred,  the  only  son,  entered  soon  afterward.  He  was  a 
tall  young  man,  well  built,  with  dark  brown  hair,  which  curled 
naturally;  his  brow  was  high  and  pensive,  his  eyes  were 
dark  and  expressive,  his  nose  of  Roman  shape,  his  lips  well 
formed,  and  supported  by  a  firmly-set  chin ;  his  complexion 
was  dark  and  healthy,  and  the  daily  exercise  in  nine-pin 
playing  and  target  shooting  had  made  him  muscular  and  of 
steady  nerves.  He  respectfully  bowed  to  his  father,  and 
turning  to  his  mother  and  his  sister  Viola,  he  asked  : 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?   Rosalind  is  in  the  hall,  and  weeps." 

"Your  sister  Rosalind,"  answered  the  mother,  in  a  dis- 
pleased tone,  "  is  burdening  her  mind  with  matters  unbecom- 
ing a  young  lady  of  distinguished  birth  ;  and  you,  my  son, 
if  you  will  keep  yourself  shut  up  in  your  room  so  much,  with 
your  books  and  mineral  stones,  you  too  will  become  gloomy, 
and  cause  your  mother  sorrow.  Viola,  come  to  me,  and  kiss 
me  ;  you  are  my  pet.  Rosalind  and  Winfred  wish  to  become 
great  scholars,  but  will  never  know  what  happiness  is,  and 
how  to  enjoy  it.  You  have  the  right  conception  of  life,  just 
like  myself." 

Viola  kissed  her  mother,  but  it  was  not  a  kiss  coming  from 
the  heart,  for  girls  who  are  as  vain  as  Viola,  can  not  love 
sincerely  ;  their  affections  are  divided  between  love  of  dress, 
show,  glitter  and  flattery.  They  kiss  only  with  the  lips,  but 
without  the  heart. 

Winfred  was  about  saying  something  to  his  mother,  when 
he  noticed  a  sign  from  his  father,  and  kept  silent. 

"  Please,  can  I  and  our  Winfred  have  a  cup  of  tea  before 
we  ride  to  the  depot  to  receive  and  bring  home  our  foreign 
guests  ?"  asked  Mr.  La  Monte. 

"  I  presume  tea  is  ready.  Viola,  go  and  tell  Mrs.  Wehlen 
to  serve  the  tea  for  you,  pa  and  Winfred." 


A   TALE   OP   REAL    LIFE.  167 

"  Ma,  I  don't  like  to  go  into  the  kitchen.  I  don't  like  to  see 
the  old  cook  with  her  gray  hair  sticking  out  from  under  her 
white  cap,  and  with  her  long  and  bony  hand  and  fingers. 
Whenever  I  see  her  it  takes  my  appetite,  and  I  can  not  eat 
anything.  She  looks  horrible,"  said  Viola,  with  an  expres- 
sive shake  of  her  head. 

"Viola,  beware  how  you  speak  of  aged  people,  especially 
of  Mrs.  Wehlen.  She  is  a  second  mother  to  you  all,  to  none 
more  than  to  you.  She  has  nursed  you  as  a  baby,  and  in 
your  sickness,  and  you  owe  her,  so  to  say,  your  very  life. 
Only  for  her  you  would  sleep  now  in  the  graveyard,"  remarked 
the  father,  earnestly. 

Viola  seemed  displeased  that  she  should  be  under  such 
great  obligations  to  Mrs.  Wehlen.  When,  therefore,  she 
opened  the  door  and  observed  Rosalind,  she  said, 

"  Please  go  in  the  kitchen,  and  tell  Mrs.  Wehlen  to  serve 
the  tea  for  pa  and  Winfred." 

Eosalind  went  to  the  kitchen,  and  Viola  smilingly  stepped 
back  in  the  room,  whispering  to  her  mother,  "  Ain't  Eosalind 
a  goose  ?" 

"  Quite  so,"  was  the  mother's  reply  to  her  favorite  daugh- 
ter. 

Eosalind  opened  the  door,  and  announced  that  the  tea  was 
served. 

"  Can  I  take  tea  with  you,  pa?" 

"  If  your  mother  does  not  object,"  responded  the  father. 

"  I  don't  object,"  said  the  mother.  "  You  may  take  supper 
with  your  father.  Myself  and  Viola  will  tukj  supper  after 
we  are  dressed. 

Mr.  La  Monte,  Eosalind  and  Winfred,  on  entering  the 
dining-room,  found  Mrs.  Wehlen  waiting,  with  a  letter  in  her 
hand,  which  she  tried  to  place  in  Mr.  La  Monte's  hands,  who 
said: 

"  Mrs.  Wehlen,  if  by  this  letter  you  wish  to  inform  me 
that  you  intend  to  leave,  I  will  not  accept  it." 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  wish  to  give  up  my  situation  and  go  house- 
keeping with  my  son." 


168  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

Mr.  La  Monte  started  at  these  words  ;  and  the  man  whose 
judgment  was  so  clear,  who  could  in  a  moment  decide  what 
course  would  be  the  best  to  pursue,  even  under  the  most 
difficult  circumstances,  whose  yes  or  no  made  or  unmade 
many  a  business  house,  almost  trembled  at  the  idea  that  the 
cook  was  going  to  leave.  Neither  his  wife  nor  his  daughters 
knew  anvthing  about  cooking,  and  where  to  get  a  cook  who 
would  bear  up  with  the  unreasonable  demands  and  overbear- 
ing treatment  of  his  wife. 

"•  I  hope,  Mrs.  Wehlen,  you  will  change  your  mind  as  to 
leaving,  and  continue  to  make  your  home  with  us,"  said 
Mr.  La  Monte,  in  a  very  kind  and  almost  imploring  tone  and 
manner. 

"  It  is  now  twenty  years  that  I  have  been  under  your  roof, 
but  I  never  could  look  upon  it  as  my  home,  although  I  have 
nursed  all  your  children  and  taken  care  of  them,  you  and 
Mrs.  La  Monte,  in  sickness,  to  the  best  of  my  ability.  I 
have  worked  faithfully,  but,  nevertheless,  I  was  made  to 
feel  through  these  many  years  that  I  am  a  servant  only 
whose  feelings  and  whose  comfort  need  not  be  respected," 
remarked  Mrs.  Wehlen. 

"  I  know  you  have  been  very  kind  to  my  family,  and  I  am 
truly  sorry  that  you  have  not  been  treated  with  the  consid- 
eration you  are  entitled  to;  but  I  need  not  say  whose  fault 
it  is.  For  my  part,  I  have  done  all  in  my  power  to  reward 
you  for  your  good  services  in  my  family.  Look  in  your 
saving  bank  book,  and  at  your  son,  who,  under  my  direc- 
tions, has  become  a  young  man  of  whom  any  mother  might 
be  proud." 

"  I  know  and  acknowledge  that  you  have  been  very  kind 
to  me.  I  have  not  forgotten,  and  never  will,  under  what  dis- 
tressing circumstances  you  found  me  in  that  cold  garret- 
room,  nearly  frozen  to  death  with  my  little  boy.  Through 
your  timely  assistance  I  recovered  my  health,  and  my  child 
was  placed  in  good  hands.  You  took  me  into  your  house  as 
cook  and  paid  me  well,  though  you  had  to  submit,  on  account 
of  my  ignorance,  to  many  inconveniences.  You  placed  my 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  169 

boy  in  your  bank,  watched  over  him  like  a  father  over  hia 
son,  that  he  should  not  go  astray,  and  to  you  he  owes  what 
he  is  to-day,"  and  the  cook  bent  down  to  kiss  her  master's 
hand,  which  he  quickly  withdrew. 

"Don't,"  exclaimed  Mr.  La  Monte,  "you  are  under  no  ob- 
ligation to  me;  we  are  square.  You  have  watched  over  my 
children,  I  have  watched  over  your  son;  you  gave  me  and 
mine  comfort,  and  I  gave  you  what  will  make  you  comfort- 
able in  your  old  age.  Say  no  more  about  it,  but  go  to  your 
work." 

Mrs.  Wehlen  did  neither  move  nor  speak. 

Mr.  La  Monte  was  angry  because  the  cook  did  not  leave 
and  go  to  work  ;  he  was  angry  with  himself,  that  he,  the 
able  La  Monte,  who  was  used  to  be  obeyed  at  a  wink,  should 
now  be  disobeyed  when  he  had  spoken  in  so  many  words^ 
disobeyed  by  an  old  woman,  whom  he  had  rescued  from 
starvation,  and  of  whose  son  he  had  made  a  man,  now 
a  teller  in  the  bank.  He  was  angry  because  he  could  not 
punish  such  disobedience,  but  had  to  take  it  lightly,  so  as 
not  to  make  matters  unpleasant;  for  he  thought,  and  very 
correctly  so,  how  unpleasant  it  would  be  without  having  a 
cook  in  the  house  who  knew  how  to  prepare  palatable  mor- 
sels to  satisfy  the  inner  man. 

"  Yes,"  said  he  to  himself,  "  it  is  all  very  nice  to  have  a 
beautiful  house,  with  rich  carpets  and  elegant  furniture,  rare 
paintings  and  a  library  of  choice  books,  a  piano  and  a  wife 
and  children  to  play.  Poetry,  and  music,  and  ladies  hand- 
somely dressed,  is  all  very  nice  to  behold,  but  when  the  inner 
man  clamors  for  something  well-prepared  to  eat,  and  it  is 
not  given,  all  these  niceties  lose  their  charm.  Mrs.  Wehlen 
must  remain,  because  she  is  my  commissary -general.  Many 
a  well-appointed  army  suffers  defeat  because  the  commissary- 
general  is  deficient,  and  many  a  family  have  been  ruined  for 
this  very  reason.  I  would  be  a  poor  chief  if  I  and  those  de- 
pending on  me  should  suffer  on  that  account.  Mrs.  Wehlen 
must  remain ;  the  commissary  department  must  remain  in 


170  OTJR  PROSPECTS. 

good  order,  else  distress  and  sickness  will  overtake  my  little 
army  and  its  efficiency  will  be  destroyed." 

Turning  toward  the  cook,  he  said  in  his  most  patronizing 
tone  :  "  Mrs.  Wehlen,  I  can  hardly  believe  that  things  should 
be  so  annoying  in  my  house  as  to  cause  you  so  much  grief 
and  trouble." 

"  I  did  not  wish  to  trouble  you,  Mr.  La  Monte,"  answered 
Mrs.  Wehlen,  "  and  have  kept  all  the  abuses  I  endured  to 
myself,  hoping  that  when  the  mistress  would  get  older  and 
the  misses  been  grown  up,  there  would  be  a  change  for  the 
better ;  but  instead  of  that  it  is  getting  worse.  In  former 
years  it  was  only  the  mistress,  who  was  unreasonable  in  her 
demands  and  hurt  my  feelings  with  words  and  action  ;  but 
now,  Viola  also  is  trying  her  best  to  increase  my  trouble  and 
annoyances,  for  she  treats  me  with  real  cruelty.  I  could 
stand  it  from  her  mother,  but  from  her  whose  life  I  have 
saved,  is  more  than  I  can  stand.  My  strength  is  giving  way 
and  I  feel  that  under  the  present  circumstances,  I  must  give 
up  my  position,  or  I'll  become  consumptive,  and  so  hasten  my 
death  ;  even  now,  I  am  only  the  shadow  of  my  former,  self. 
No,  I  can  not  remain.  For  twenty  years  I  have  been  faith- 
fully working  for  your  family;  is  it  then  unreasonable,  if  I 
ask  your  consent  to  leave  and  to  enjoy  with  my  son  the  fruits 
of  my  labor?" 

"  Your  demand  is  reasonable,  but  as  we  expect  great  com- 
pany, you  ought  at  least  remain  until  our  visitors  are  gone. 
In  the  meantime  I  will  look  around  and  see  where  we  can 
get  another  cook  to  fill  your  place,"  remarked  Mr.  La  Monte, 
in  a  still  kinder  tone  and  manner. 

"  I  will  remain  only  on  two  conditions,"  answered  Mrs. 
Wehlen,  firmly. 

Mr.  La  Monte  looked  at  his  cook,  when  she  spoke  of  con- 
ditions, but  soon  saw  that  if  he  wished  to  retain  the  services 
of  his  good  old  cook,  he  would  have  to  make  up  his  mind  to 
consent  to  any  conditions  she  might  ask.  He  bit  his  lips,  for 
he  felt  humiliated  that  he,  John  James  La  Monte,  the  great 
cashier,  the  best  financier  in  the  whole  State,  whom  public 


A   TALE   OF    REAL   LIFE.  171 

opinion  had  pointed  out  as  the  only  man  capable  of  fill- 
ing the  office  as  Secretary  of  the  U.  S.  Treasury,  should 
now  be  compelled  to  tally  with  his  cook,  in  order  to  induce 
her  to  continue  in  his  service.  It  is  sad,  that  such  should  be 
the  case ;  he  had  foreseen  it,  and  often  requested  his  wife  to 
raise  their  daughters  more  domestically  ;  to  make  them  more 
useful  in  the  kitchen,  and  not  so  much  in  the  reception-room 
and  parlor.  But  whenever  he  alluded  to  it,  she  would  repeat 
the  same  old  story :  "  Sir,  you  must  know  that  I  am  a  born 
Bottwell,  and  have  not  been  brought  up  in  such  a  manner. 
My  mother  never  would  allow  her  daughter  to  do  such  vile 
work  as  to  cook,  or  have  anything  to  do  in  the  kitchen.  My 
mother  is  good  authority,  she  has  been  the  most  fashionable 
lady  in  her  day,  and  even  now,  her  black  span  of  horses, 
in  the  costliest  harness,  attached  to  a  royal-like  carriage, 
can  be  seen  every  day  on  the  avenue.  My  mother  does  honor 
to  the  Bottwell  family;  her  granddaughters  shall  not  be  de- 
graded by  working  in  the  kitchen.  No,  they  shall  not — not 
as  long  as  she  lives,  for  she  is  a  born  Bottwell,  and  knows 
what  is  proper,  while  he  does  not  know  anything  about  it  ; 
and  how  could  he  know  how  a  rich  man's  daughter  should 
be  brought  up,  being  a  washwoman's  son  ;  the  idea  that  her 
daughters,  the  grandchildren  of  a  Bottwell,  should  cook, 
were  an  outrage  even  to  mention  it." 

"Yes,  I  have  foreseen  this,  and  have  warned  my  wife,  but 
she  would  not  listen,  and  now  I  have  to  humble  myself  be- 
fore this  woman  or  suffer  even  worse.  Let  me  choose  the 
least  of  the  evils." 

"And  what  are  the  conditions?"  asked  Mr.  La  Monte,  with 
forced  politeness. 

"The  first,  Viola  shall  cease  to  talk  to  me  with  disrespect, 
and  that  her  mother  shall  not  encourage  her  to  abuse  me;  and 
the  second  that  I  shall  be  permitted  to  receive  my  son's  visits 
twice  a  week  and  go  with  him  every  second  Sabbath  to  the 
house  of  worship." 

Mr.  La  Monte's  face  grew  pale  at  these  conditions,  reason- 
able as  they  appeared,  but  they  were  hard  for  him  to  comply 


172  OTJR   PROSPECTS. 

with.  First,  he  had  no  authority  over  his  daughter,  Viola, 
for  whenever  he  reproached  her  the  mother  took  her  part, 
and  as  he  did  not  wish  to  be  humiliated  before  his  children, 
and  above  all  to  avoid  scenes,  he  had  given  it  up  as  a  useless 
effort  to  make  Viola  act  lady-like  toward  the  servants,  and 
especially  toward  Mrs.  Wehlen.  As  for  the  son  visiting  his 
mother  at  the  house  that  would  make  it  only  worse,  for  Mrs. 
La  Monte  disliked  poor  people  and  might  treat  young  Otto 
"VVehleri  with  coldness.  The  son  would  also  soon  notice  that 
his  mother  had  not  as  good  a  home  in  his  house  as  the 
young  man  had  supposed,  and  beside  it  would  give  his  young 
and  able  bank  teller  an  insight  how  matters  worked  in  his 
house,  and  that  Mrs.  La  Monte  was  not  as  nice  a  lady  as  she 
appeared  before  the  world.  All  this  passed  through  his 
mind  when  he  said  : 

"  Suppose  you  leave  matters  as  they  are  until  after  our 
distinguished  visitors  have  left." 

"I  would  rather  have  a  definite  answer  to-day,"  remarked 
the  cook,  "for  I  have  been  waiting  anxiously,  for  months,  to 
speak  to  you  about  this ;  and  either  to  permit  me  to  leave 
your  house  without  giving  you  any  offense,  and  so  to  think 
me  ungrateful,  or  to  stay  and  have  the  permission  to  see  my 
son  oftener  at  this  house,  since  for  the  last  three  times  when 
I  went  to  see  him  at  his  boarding  house,  I  did  not  find  him. 
To  be  kept  away  from  my  son  for  such  a  length  of  time, 
makes  me  sad  and  ill." 

The  father  looked  at  his  children.  Winfred  looked  sad, 
and  Eosalind  tried  to  suppress  her  tears,  but  nature  was 
stronger  than  her  will,  and  the  tears  fell  one  by  one  over  the 
pale  cheek  of  the  noble  girl. 

Mr.  La  Monte  was  deeply  affected  by  this  scene.  A  woman 
nearly  fifty  years  of  age,  who  had  become  gray  in  his  ser- 
vice, and  done  more  for  his  children  and  for  his  own  comfort 
than  their  own  mother,  pleading  to  him  for  a  better  and 
more  humane  treatment,  and  permission  to  receive  her  only 
son,  in  his  house,  twice  a  week,  and  to  go  with  him  to  the 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  173 

house  of  worship,  was  too  much  even  for  John  James  La 
Monte,  the  man  of  "No." 

"Yes,"  said  he,  finally;  "Mrs.  "Wehlen,just  continue  to 
make  your  home  with  us,  and  I  will  see  that  everything 
goes  on  properly  in  the  house.  I  will  inform  your  son  that 
he  has  permission  to  call  and  see  you  every  Sunday  and 
every  Wednesday,  and,  if  you  choose,  you  can  go  with  him, 
every  Sabbath,  to  the  place  of  worship." 

"I  thank  you;  God  bless  you  and  give  you  peace  and 
plenty  of  this  world's  riches,"  answered  Mrs.  Wehlen,  and 
left  the  room. 

"Poor  woman,"  said  Rosalind,  "she  suffers  much,  mother 
and  Yiola  hurt  her  feelings  whenever  they  have  the  least 
chance." 

"Stop!"  exclaimed  the  father,  in  a  commanding  tone  of 
voice;  "if  you  can  not  say  anything  good  of  your  neighbors, 
say  nothing,  for  that  is  the  best  you  can  do  for  them.  Make 
it  one  of  your  most  cherished  rules  through  your  life  never 
to  say  anything  bad  of  your  neighbors,  unless  you  are  di- 
rectly questioned  by  some  one  who  has  the  authority  to  ask 
and  expect  a  truthful  answer.  If  you  follow  my  counsel, 
then  the  prospects  are  that  you  and  others  will  be  saved 
from  a  multitude  of  troubles." 

Eosalind  readily  promised  to  follow  her  father's  advice, 
and,  by  way  of  changing  the  subject  of  their  conversation, 
she  said  to  her  father: 

"  Is  it  not  strange  that  I  have  never  seen  Mrs.  Wehlen's 
son,  though  I  knew  she  had  a  son?" 

Mr.  La  Monte  did  not  seem  or  wish  to  notice  her  remark, 
and,  instead  of  answering  his  daughter,  he  simply  offered 
her  some  more  dry  beef,  a  hint  for  Miss  Eosalind  not  to  put 
any  more  questions  on  the  subject. 

"Winfred,"  said  the  father,  "after  tea  you  will  go  with 
me  in  our  carriage  to  the  depot,  to  receive  our  visitors  and 
escort  them  home." 

Very  soon  afterward  Mr.  La  Monte  and  his  son  were  driv- 
ing to  the  depot  to  receive  their  relations.  Miss  Rosalind 


17  i  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

had  bidden  her  father  good-night,  since  she  wished  to  retire 
before  he  returned. 

Mrs.  La  Monte,  accompanied  J  by  her  daughter  Viola,  re- 
paired to  her  dressing-room  and  commenced  dressing  for  the 
reception  of  their  noble  cousins,  the  Counts  Louis  and  Murat 
La  Monte. 

Miss  Viola  assisted  her  mother  in  dressing,  who  lamented 
that  her  hair  was  getting  so  thin,  that  she  had  hardly 
enough  left  to  attach  the  false  hair  of  which  she  had  an  im- 
mense quantity,  and  some  extra  questionable  stuffing  be- 


"  Yes,  ma,  your  hair  is  getting  very  thin.  It  must  be  be- 
cause you  wear  such  a  heavy  waterfall.  Your  head  perspires 
too  much,  preventing  the  growth  of  your  hair,  and,  besides, 
injuring  the  roots  of  it," 

"Child,  you  speak  nonsense.  It  is  not  from  wearing  such 
a  love  of  a  waterfall  my  hair  grew  so  thin  ;  it  is  from  some- 
thing else,"  remarked  the  mother,  with  a  sigh. 

Viola  noticed  both  the  remark  and  sigh,  and  asked  : 

"Ma,  what,  then,  did  cause  the  loss  of  your  hair,  of  which 
as  you  say,  you  had  so  plenty  in  your  younger  days?" 

"Because  I  had  so  many  children,"  answered  the  mother. 

"You  never  had  more  than  three  children,  ma,  that  I 
know  of,"  observed  Viola. 

"Thank  God  I  had  not  more  than  three,  and  that  is  one. 
or  two  too  many.  If  I  had  only  one  child  I  would  now  be 
much  prettier,  and  not  have  had  so  much  trouble.  I  would 
not  have  been  obliged  to  have  that  old  Mrs.  Wehlen  in  the 
house  to  wait  on  you  while  you  were  teething  and  had  the 
hooping-cough,  the  measles,  and  scarlet  fever.  "What  a  time 
she  had  of  it  when  you  were  all  sick  !  Well,  she  thinks  she 
has  done  a  great  deal  for  me  to  have  nursed  you  all  so  well. 
But  what  comfort  do  my  children  give  me  for  all  this 
trouble?  Winfred  tries  to  solve  the  formation  of  coal,  iron, 
and  other  ores,  while  Eosalind  is  for  woman's  rights.  You, 
Viola,  are  ray  only  comfort.  You  assist  me  in  dressing. 


A   TALE   OF    REAL   LIFE.  175 

I  think  you  have  arranged  ray  hair  real  nice.  How  hand 
me  my  new  fifty-bone  French  corset." 

Viola  took  the  new  corset  in  her  hand,  and  was  surprised 
to  find  it  to  be  of  No.  19,  while  her  mother  required  a  No. 
25  corset. 

"  Ma,"  said  the  daughter,"  there  must  be  a  mistake.  The 
corset  is  only  No.  19,  while  No.  25  is  the  size  you  wear." 

"  Child,  there  is  no  mistake  about  it.  I  have  selected  pur- 
posely a  No.  19  corset,  and  will  lace  so  much  tighter.  I  had 
all  my  fine  dresses  altered  to  that  size.  I  must  appear  fif- 
teen years  younger  when  the  noble  Counts  are  in  our  house." 

Mrs.  La  Monte  looked  in  the  great  mirror  before  her,  and 
was  well  pleased  with  her  waterfall,  resembling  a  small-sized 
pillow.  She  then  commenced  to  put  on  her  corset,  which  was 
quite  a  task  to  lace  together. 

"O,  ma!"  exclaimed  Viola,  "how  can  you  press  yourself  so 
together?  you  can  not  breathe ;"  noticing  her  mother's  face  be- 
came livid  from  the  obstruction  of  breathing. 

"  Don't  fear,  I  will  be  able  to  stand  it;  you  must  know,  that 
I  am  a  born  Bottwell.  When  I  will,  I  will — even  if  it  should 
cost  my  life;"  and  in  an  angry  tone  she  added  :  "  If  I  had  not 
had  so  many  children,  I  would  now  have  a  small  and  neat 
waist;  and  if  I  had  not  that  old  cook  in  the  house,  who  cooks 
so  well,  I  would  not  be  so  fleshy."  Mrs.  La  Monte  continued 
to  lament,  "  that  she  had  been  a  great  goose  for  having  had  so 
many  children,  and  allowed  such  a  good  cook  to  stay  in  the 
house,  all  because  Mr.  La  Monte  liked  to  live  so  well;  he 
ought  to  do  like  other  gentlemen,  to  go  outside  of  the  house 
and  get  his  comfort:  she  wished  she  had  never  been  born, 
than  to  have  lived  and  chosen  such  a  cruel  man  for  her  hus- 
band ;  but  she  ought  to  have  known  better,  before  she  con- 
descended to  marry  him,  a  washwoman's  son."  Such,  and 
similar  language,  did  Mrs.  La  Monte,  the  born  Bottwell,  use 
in  the  presence  of  her  daughter,  who  looked  and  listened 
in  amazement  at  her  parent,  who  was  angry  because  she  could 
not  wear  a  No.  19  corset,  with  ease  and  comfort. 

"  Viola,  please  hand  me  the  box  of  Persian  lily-white  and 


176  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

my  powder  brush  ;  my  face  is  unusually  red,  on  account  of 
tight  lacing;"  and  she  began  to  powder  her  face  vigorously. 
Then  she  took  her  handkerchief  and  wiped  slowly  the  powder 
from  her  eye-lids  and  lips,  which  she  rubbed  and  pressed 
together  to  produce  a  better  red.  She  took  a  little  mirror  in 
her  hand,  to  have  a  better  look  at  her  face,  when  all  at  onco 
she  uttered  a  most  unnatural  shriek  of  distress.  Viola  hastened 
to  her  mother's  side,  and  breathlessly  asked:  "Ma,  what  ails 
you  ?" 

"  Yiola,  look !"  and  she  wrung  her  hands  in  despair  ;  "  Vi- 
ola, come  and  see,  but  no  ;  light  all  the  gas  in  the  room  first; 
don't  look  at  me,  but  do  as  I  command  you.  O,  dear  me  1 
O,  dear  me ;  what  a  misfortune !  what  a  calamity !"  moaned  the 
unhappy  woman.  Yiola  lit  the  burners  with  nervous  rapid- 
ity, and  came  pretty  near,  in  her  over-haste,  pulling  the 
chandelier  down,  and  setting  fire  to  the  house. 

"Now,  ma,  the  burners  are  all  lit,  what  is  the  matter,  tell 
me;  can  I  do  anything  for  you?" 

"Yes,  child,  come  near  to  the  light;  look  on  my  brow;  do 
you  notice  this  line;  is  it  a  wrinkle?"  asked  Mrs.  La  Monte, 
in  great  distress. 

"  Why,  no,  ma,  it  is  no  wrinkle,  it  is  only  because  you  have 
powdered  your  face  so  thickly,  and  made  a  streak  with  your 
handkerchief  on  your  brow,"  answered  Yiola. 

The  mother  felt  relieved,  and  said :  "  How  glad  I  am  that 
it  is  not  a  wrinkle,  and  that  my  brow  will  look  so  placid  when 
the  Counts  arrive." 

She  put  on  her  dress,  but  it  was  also  quite  a  task  to  hook 
and  lace  it. 

"All  Mrs.  Wehlen's  fault;  she  cooks  so  good,  and  it  tastes 
so  well,  that  I  eat  so  heartily  and  grow  so  fleshy.  I  have  a 
good  mind,  notwithstanding  Mr.  La  Monte's  entreaties,  to 
send  her  off;  but  no,  I  better  keep  her  until  the  noble  Counts 
are  gone.  I  hope  she  will  cook  good  enough  for  the  Counts, 
I  presume  these  noblemen  are  good  judges  of  a  table.  I 
wonder  what  Mrs.  Hunting  will  say,  when  she  will  hear 
that  two  Counts,  from  France,  our  relatives,  will  spend  the 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  177 

holidays  with  us?  I  told  it  at  Beini tiger's  when  ordering 
the  New-Year's  cakes;  and  when  at  Buuntain's,  the  barber, 
where  I  bought  a  bottle  of  his  hair  tonic,  I  managed  to  im- 
part to  him  that  1  expected  two  Counts  from  Paris,  cousins 
of  my  husband.  Beininger  and  Bauntain  will  drum  it  out, 
and  by  this  time  the  whole  city  will  know,  that  two  noble 
Counts  will  honor  us  with  their  presence;  but  there  is  one 
thing  which  troubles  me,  that  Beininger  did  not  furnish  me 
with  as  elaborately  ornamented  New -Year's  cakes  as  I  ordered, 
although  he  charges  forty  dollars  for  two  cakes;  but  who 
cares  for  the  money,  my  husband  is  rich,  and  a  born  Bottwell 
should  have  all  she  desires.  Viola,  please  hand  me  my  jewel- 
case." 

The  mother  opened  the  jewel-casket  and  assorted  her  jew- 
els, which  were  of  the  most  exquisite  workmanship  and  cost- 
liest stones.  "  Now,  what  shall  I  wear,  my  pearl  jewels,  my 
gold  jewels  set  with  pearls,  or  my  diamond  set?"  It  was 
quite  a  task  for  Mrs.  La  Monte  and  her  daughter  to  decide 
which  jewels  to  wear  for  the  great  reception  of  their  noble 
cousins,  the  Count  Louis  and  Murat  La  Monte.  At  last  Mrs. 
La  Monte  decided  to  wear  the  diamond  set,  for  in  it  she  looked 
the  most  brilliant,  and  a  good  deal,  as  she  well  knew,  depended 
on  the  first  impression  which  she  would  make  on  her  noble 
relations. 

At  last  the  grand  toilet  was  finished,  and  mother  and 
daughter  were  admiring  or  criticising  each  other  in  the 
grand  mirror.  They  then  commenced  practicing  those  pro- 
found bows,  of  which  Viola  had  given  already  an  idea  and 
sample  to  her  father,  and,  no  doubt,  would  have  continued 
until  midnight,  but  for  the  timely  arrival  of  the  carriage. 
Mrs.  La  Monte  gave  one  more  look  in  the  mirror,  implored 
her  daughter  to  tell  her  if  there  really  were  no  wrinkles  on 
her  brow,  and  if  she  looked  well  enough  to  appear  before 
her  august  cousins.  Being  assured  satisfactorily  by  her 
daughter,  both  ladies  repaired  to  the  reception  room,  and 
took  their  positions,  Viola  especially,  so  as  to  be  enabled  to 
make  her  profound  bow  with  all  the  grace  at  her  command  j 


178  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

both  were  on  the  quivive.  Mrs.  La  Monte's  heart  was  beat- 
ing quickly,  the  door  was  opened,  but  she  did  not  dare  lift 
her  eyes.  Viola,  seeing  her  father  and  brother  coming  alone, 
asked : 

"  Pa,  why,  where  are  our  cousins,  the  noble  Counts,  Louis 
and  Murat?" 

"That  is  more  than  I  know,"  answered  the  father,  with 
ill  humor.  "  We  came  to  the  depot,  and  had  to  wait  nearly 
fifteen  minutes  before  the  train  arrived,  but  neither  myself 
nor  Winfred  saw  anybody  who  could  resemble  the  Counts. 
I  called  their  names,  and  asked  the  conductor  whether  he 
noticed  two  gentlemen  on  the  train  who  resembled  two 
French  noblemen,  but  he  said  he  was  sure  that  there  were  no 
such  gentlemen  on  the  train.  To  make  sure  that  we  did  not 
miss  them,  we  went  to  every  principal  hotel,  looking  over 
the  register,  but  found  no  such  names  entered  on  the  hotel 
books." 

The  news  that  the  Counts  had  not  arrived  was  a  great  dis- 
appointment to  Mrs.  La  Monte  and  Miss  Viola;  both  of  them 
seemed  as  if  thunder-struck.  The  effect  on  Mrs.  La  Monte 
was  terrific.  Her  face  changed  to  a  deadly  pale,  and  her 
eyes  flashed  fire ;  her  lips  were  tightly  compressed,  and  her 
nostrils  expanded.  She  wrung  her  hands  in  great  despair, 
and  exclaimed  : 

"  Woe  is  me !  Woe  is  me !  What  will  the  world  say  when 
they  will  hear  that  the  Counts  did  not  arrive?  But  I  know 
who  is  to  be  blamed." 

"Who,  ma?"  asked  Viola,  quickly. 

"  Your  father,"  answered  the  mother.  The  Counts,  on 
their  arrival  in  this  country,  have,  no  doubt,  been  informed 
that  your  father  is  the  son  of  a  washwoman." 

"  Silence !  Silence  !"  cried  Mr.  La  Monte,  in  a  loud,  com- 
manding voice.  "You  have  said  enough."  He  motioned 
his  children  to  retire,  which  they  did  at  once. 

"  I  will  be  silent  when  I  please.  I  have  not  said  enough. 
You  must  know  that  I  am  a  born  Bottwell,"  exclaimed  Mrs. 
La  Monte  in  her  rage. 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  179 

"  I  know  you  are ;"  and  the  husband  whispered  in  her  ear, 
"  and  your  ancestors  were  rag-pickers  and  kitchen-refuse  gath- 
erers /" 

At  these  words  the  proud  and  overbearing  Mrs.  La' Monte 
dropped  down  to  the  floor,  a  senseless  body. 

Mr.  La  Monte  looked  at  his  wife  with  mingled  feelings  of 
pity  and  contempt,  saying  : 

"Thy  pride,  thy  overbearing  disposition,  thy  vanity,  have 
embittered  my  very  existence.  I  have  been  your  victim, 
and  what  is  worse,  I  am  to  blame  that  I,  as  a  man  with  god- 
like capacities,  have  not  exerted  my  powers  more  persist- 
ently to  change  your  character  for  the  better."  He  felt  her 
pulse,  and  said,  "  It  is  nothing  but  tight  lacing." 

He  took  out  a  pocket-knife,  and  carefully  ripped  open  the 
lacing  of  the  dress  and  corset,  loosened  the  rest  of  the  gar- 
ments, and  took  a  glass  of  water,  with  which  he  sprinkled 
her  face.  The  wife  soon  recovered  her  consciousness,  saying: 

"  I  feel  fatigued,  I  wish  to  retire." 

Mr.  La  Monte  called  Viola,  and  directed  her  to  assist  her 
mother  to  her  room. 

Mr.  La  Monte  remained  for  some  time  in  the  reception- 
room,  thinking  what  possibly  could  have  prevented  his 
cousins  from  not  arriving  this  evening. 

"If  they  do  arrive,"  said  he  to  himself,  "and  can  not  give 
a  satisfactory  account,  I  shall  have  lost  my  confidence  in 
them  as  gentlemen." 

Then  he  turned  off  the  gas  and  went  to  the  library,  where 
he  selected  Hogarth's  Works,  and  began  reading  the  story 
of  "Industry  and  Idleness." 

''•Yes,"  said  he,  "my  wife  and  daughters  are  too  idle,  and 
idleness  is  the  mother  of  all  evil." 

He  was  about  to  retire,  when  all  at  once  he  heard  a  voice 
singing,  only  a  short  distance  from  his  house,  in  a  charming 
baritone,  "  What  is  a  home  without  a  mother."  Mr.  La 
Monte  was  quite  enchanted ;  he  noiselessly  opened  one  of  the 
shutters,  but  was  greatly  surprised  to  recognize  Otto  Wehlen, 
who  was  serenading  his  mother. 


180  OUR    PROSPECTS. 

Viola  was  yet  in  her  mother's  room.  She  also  heard  tho 
splendid  song  and  opened  partly  the  shutter.  The  clear 
moonlight  enabled  her  to  see  a  young  man  of  noble  mien, 
standing  near  the  house.  She  did  not  understand  the  words 
of  the  singer,  and  turning  to  her  mother,  said : 

"  Ma,  I  guess  one  of  the  Counts  is  serenading  us."  At 
these  words,  Mrs.  La  Monte  jumped  from  the  bed,  wrapped 
her  dress  and  shawl  around  her,  and  slyly  looked  with  her 
daughter  Yiola  out  of  the  window. 

"  O,  ma  !"  exclaimed  Yiola,  in  a  suppressed  tone,  "  what  a 
beautiful  young  man,  and  what  a  voice  1  Oh,  it  is  enchant- 
ing!" 

"Yes,  daughter,  you  are  right ;  he  is  a  fine  looking  fellow, 
and  I  hope  he  is  one  of  the  Counts.  I  would  not  have  any 
objection  if  he  would  fall  in  love  with  you,  and  you  with 
him,  and  so  become  the  Countess  La  Monte." 

"  Ma,  if  that  young  man  looks  as  handsome  in  day  time  as 
he  appears  now  to  me,  and  if  he  is  as  good  as  he  is  pretty,  I 
would  marry  him,  even  if  he  were  not  a  Count,"  remarked 
Yiola,  earnestly. 

"  Hush  with  such  nonsense,  Yiola,  I  am  ashamed  of  you 
to  hear  you  talk  thus.  Close  the  shutter  and  go  to  bed,  or 
else  you  will  surely  catch  cold,"  said  the  mother. 

But  Yiola  did  not  close  the  shutter.  The  young  man  took 
his  flute  and  commenced  playing  choice  pieces,  which  he 
continued  for  some  time. 

Yiola  listened  with  her  whole  soul  and  became  so  en- 
chanted, that  in  her  enthusiasm  she  even  applauded  the 
singer. 

The  mother  pushed  Yiola  from  the  window,  sternly  com- 
manding her  to  go  to  bed. 

Yiola  said  nothing,  but  retired  to  her  room.  She  could  not 
help  thinking  of  the  beautiful  serenader. 

"  I  wonder,"  said  she  to  herself,  "whether  it  is  one  of  the 
Counts.  It  is  a  stranger,  for  I  am  sure  I  never  have  seen 
him  before;  but  Count  or  no  Count,  I  will  set  my  cap  for 
him.  What  a  love  of  a  moustache  he  has,  and  how  charm- 


A  TALE   OF   REAL    LIFE.  181 

ingly  he  sings  and  plays  ! '  She  did  not  fall  asleep  for  some 
hours,  but  even  then  her  sleep  was  disturbed  by  dreams  of 
the  charming  singer. 

It  was  late  in  the  morning  when  Viola  awoke,  and  her 
thoughts  were  still  occupied  with  the  young  man  she  had 
seen  the  night  before. 

"I  must  ask  pa  whether  he  knows  him,"  said  she  to  her- 
self. She  dressed  quickly  and  went  down  stairs,  where  she 
met  the  whole  family  in  the  dining-room. 

"Good  morning,  pa;  good  morning,  ma;  good  morning, 
Rosalind;  good  morning,  brother  Winfred.  A  happy  New- 
Year  to  you  all,"  said  Viola,  gracefully. 

The  parents,  sister  and  brother  returned  her  salutations. 
The  mother  kissed  her,  saying  : 

"  You  must  have  rested  well,  for  you  look  much  refreshed 
this  morning." 

"  Yes,  ma,"  answered  Viola,  "  I  have  slept  well  and  had 
such  pleasant  dreams." 

"  What  about?"  asked  the  mother,  quickly. 

"  About  that  handsome  young  man  we  saw  last  night,  and 
his  enchanting  singing  and  playing,"  rejoined  Viola,  quite 
enthusiastically. 

The  mother  frowned,  and  said  : 

"  Child,  let  me  not  hear  you  alluding  to  that  young  man, 
or  even  think  of  him,  before  you  know  whether  he  is  one  of 
the  expected  Counts.  For  all  we  know,  he  may  only  be  a 
young  American  citizen,  and  of  lowly  birth." 

She  wished  to  say  more,  but  breakfast  was  served,  and 
Mr.  La  Monte,  laying  aside  the  morning  paper,  motioned  his 
family  to  be  seated. 

Mrs.  La  Monte  served  the  coffee  and  Mr.  La  Monte  the 
substantial,  which  consisted  that  morning  of  beefsteak,  fish 
balls,  rye  bread,  and  biscuits  with  good  butter. 

"Pa,"  said  Viola,  hesitatingly,  "  did  you  hear  the  serenad. 
ing  at  our  house  last  night?" 

The  father  answered  affirmatively. 


182  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

"Did  you  see  the  young  gentleman?"  asked  Viola,  looking 
at  her  mother,  whose  brow  was  getting  clouded. 

"I  have  seen  him,"  answered  Mr.  La  Monte. 

"Do  you  know,  pa,  who  he  is?"  continued  Yiola  her 
questions. 

"Viola,  will  you  have  some  more  of  these  steaks  or  some 
of  the  fish  balls?" 

"  No,  I  thank  you,  pa,"  answered  Viola,  blushing  deeply 
at  this  rebuke. 

The  morning  meal  was  taken  in  silence ;  all  left  the  table 
as  soon  as  the  father  arose  from  his  chair,  each  following 
their  own  pursuits. 

Mr.  La  Monte  and  his  son  went  playing  nine-pins,  and  at 
target  shooting.  Eosalind  repaired  to  her  room  to  write  an 
article  on  "Woman's  Suffrage,"  with  the  intention  of  con- 
tributing it  to  the  papers.  Viola  went  in  the  parlor,  opened 
the  piano,  and  played  all  the  pieces  which  she  heard  the 
previous  night. 

Mrs.  La  Monte  sought  her  rooms  to  look  at  her  jewels  and 
her  wardrobe,  which  she  almost  worshiped.  Great  was  her 
surprise  to  see  the  cords  of  her  dress  and  corset  cut.  "  Yes," 
said  she,  "  when  I  fainted,  my  husband,  no  doubt,  took  his 
penknife  and  cut  the  cord.  It  is  just  like  him  ;  he  is  not 
very  ceremonious  when  he  gets  angry.  So,  he  knows  that 
my  great-grandmother  was  a  rag-picker,  and  my  great- 
grandfather a  bone-gatherer  !  It  is  awful  to  think  of  it,  that 
the  Bottwells  should  ever  have  been  so  low!  This  is  even 
worse  than  being  a  washwoman's  son!  0,  if  those  Counts 
would  only  come !  " 

She  heard  the  wheels  of  a  carriage,  and  saw  her  husband 
in  his  buggy,  driving  toward  the  city.  "Ah!"  said  she, 
"  Mr.  John  James  La  Monte  leaves  the  house  without  bidding 
me  good-bye — all  my  grand-parents'  fault.  He  will  now  put 
on  airs  toward  me.  But  he  shall  not  do  it,  for  I  am  a  born 
BottweH,  one  of  the  present  Bottwells,  whose  mother  has  an 
equipage  fit  for  a  princess.  Yes,"  said  she,  proudly,  "  I  am  a 
born  Bottwell,  one  of  the  present  Bottwells,  and  my  daughters 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  183 

shall  marry  none  but  noblemen  of  the  most  aristocratic 
families  of  Europe. 

"How  fortunate  it  would  be  if  the  Count  Louis  and  the 
Count  Murat  would  come  to-day !  Perhaps  they  have  missed 
the  train,  and  may  come  this  forenoon."  Acting  upon  these 
thoughts,  she  called  her  son  Winfred,  and  told  him  to  order 
Jim  to  harness  the  horses  to  the  new  carriage,  adding: 
"  And  you  will  accompany  me  to  the  depot ;  perhaps  the 
Counts  will  come  to-day." 

"Ma,"  observed  Winfred,  "pleaso  do  not  think  so  much  of 
those  Counts.  A  Count  is  not  better  than  any  other  well- 
behaved  and  educated  man." 

"  You  are  exactly  like  your  sister  Rosalind,  natural  ple- 
beians. Just  go  and  do  what 'I  tell  you  ;  I  will  soon  be  ready 
to  start." 

Winfred  ordered  the  carriage,  and  in  a  few  minutes  Mrs. 
La  Monte  observed  the  team  before  the  front  door.  It  was  a 
splendid  turnout — Jim  in  his  new  livery,  the  new  carriage, 
and  the  horses  in  their  new  harness;  even  Mri.  La  Monte 
felt  delighted.  But  no,  there  was  something  wanting — a 
coat-of-arms  painted  on  the  carriage.  "  What  was  her  family 
escutcheon  ?  What  could  she  select  in  honor  of  her  ancestry  ? 
a  woman,  represented  with  a  stick  in  her  hand,  gathering  rags, 
or  a  man  driving  a  team  of  dogs?  No;  I  will  adopt  the 
coat-of-arms  of  the  La  Montes,  and  have  them  even  on  the 
buttons  of  my  servants  in  livery."  Such  were  the  thoughts 
of  Mrs.  La  Monte,  when  she  was  dressing  for  her  drive.  She 
was  in  doubt  what  jewelry  she  should  choose  to  wear  on  such 
an  occasion,  hoping  to  meet  the  Counts  at  the  depot.  "  I 
look  somewhat  pale,"  said  she,  regarding  herself  in  the 
mirror;  and  no  wonder:  last  night's  disappointment  and 
tight  lacing  would  have  affected  most  any  lady,  of  even  less 
vanity  and  pride.  "  Let  me  see  ;  I  will  wear  my  black  jet 
set,  with  the  large  cross."  She  did  not  wear  the  cross  as  an 
emblem  of  religion,  but  because  it  was  fashionable. 

At  last  her  toilet  was  finished,  but  she  did  not  leave  her 
room  without  looking  over  and  over  again  in  the  grand 


184  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

mirror,  which  reflected  her  whole  person.  Then  slowly  and 
majestically  she  entered  the  carriage,  and  ordered  Jim  to 
drive  to  the  depot,  and  on  her  return  to  pass  Mrs.  Hunting's 
residence — but  very  slowly — as  she  would  probably  call  on 
that  lady  this  morning. 

Jim  made  a  very  respectful  bow,  closed  the  carriage  door, 
and  drove  rapidly  to  the  depot.  Mrs.  La  Monte  got  there  in 
time  to  see  that  her  expected  guests  did  not  arrive,  and  Jim, 
according  to  instructions,  slowly  drove  past  Mrs.  Hunting's 
residence,  Mrs.  La  Monte  looking  out  of  her  carriage,  which, 
as  the  reader  knows,  was  duly  observed  by  Mrs.  Hunting,  to 
the  great  gratification  of  her  rival,  Mrs.  La  Monte. 

Mr.  John  James  La  Monte  drove,  meanwhile,  to  the  city. 
He  was  evidently  in  search  of  somebody  or  something,  since 
he  selected  the  most  unfrequented  parts,  passing  many  nar- 
row alleys  and  crooked  streets.  To  judge  from  the  expres- 
sion of  his  face,  he  seemed  to  be  disappointed  in  his  search  ; 
when,  to  his  great  surprise,  he  saw  a  beautiful  horse,  splen- 
didly caparisoned,  in  charge  of  a  man,  evidently  a  hostler, 
and  waiting  for  his  master.  Involuntarily  he  stopped  his 
buggy. 

"A  nice  horse  you  hold  there,  a  fast  horse  I  should  sup- 
pose ?  "  observed  Mr.  La  Monte  to  the  man. 

"  Yes,  sir,  the  best  horse  in  the  country,  a  second  '  Dexter,' 
your  Honor,"  answered  the  hostler. 

"And  who  is  the  fortunate  owner?  "  asked  Mr.  La  Monte. 

"  Otto  Wehlen,  Esq.,"  was  the  prompt  response. 

Mr.  La  Monte  experienced  a  strange  sensation  creeping 
over  him  when  he  heard  the  owner's  name,  and  that  the 
horse  held  by  the  hostler,  should  belong  to  the  teller  of  his 
bank. 

"  And  where  does  that  gentleman  live,"  aaked  Mr.  La 
Monte. 

"  Here,  in  this  house,  in  the  second  story.  You  go  up 
stairs  and  turn  to  your  right.  There  lives  old  Mrs.  Goldrick. 
You'll  have  to  go  through  her  room;  and  you  will  reach  a 
small  piazza;  knock  on  that  door,  and  Otto  Wehlen,  Esq., 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  185 

will  open  the  door  himself,  for  he  keeps  no  other  servant  but 
me." 

Quick  as  lightning  Mr.  La  Monte  jumped  from  his  buggy 
and  hurried  up  stairs.  He  knew  Mrs.  Goldrick;  she  was 
the  same  widow  with  whom  he  had  placed  the  boy  Otto 
Wehlen,  some  fifteen  years  ago,  but  he  had  never  taken  the 
time  to  visit  the  place  again. 

Mrs.  Goldrick  was  quite  surprised  when  she  saw  Mr.  La 
Monte  enter  her  room,  who  at  once,  and  without  any  polite- 
ness, asked  :  "  Where  is  Mr.  Otto  Wehlen's  room  ?  " 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Mr.  La  Monte  ;  a  happy  New  Year 
to  you  ;  how  well  you  look!  it  is  many  years  since  I  had  the 
pleasure  to  see  you  in  this  very  room,  although  there  has  not 
been  a  day  that  I  have  not  thought  of  you,  and  thanked  you 
for  the  great  favor  you  have  bestowed  on  me,  for  placing  in 
my  hands  that  boy,  who  has  grown  up  to  be  quite  a  gen- 
tleman." 

"  I  wish  to  see  him,"  remarked  Mr.  La  Monte,  somewhat 
out  of  patience. 

"  You  will  have  observed,  Mr.  La  Monte,  that  since  you 
have  been  here,  Otto  has  made  great  changes  in  this  house. 
He  is  now  the  sole  proprietor  of  this  building,  and  owns  be- 
sides nearly  the  whole  block;  but  please,  be  seated." 

Mr.  La  Monte  took  the  proffered  chair  and  sat  down,  list- 
ening with  his  ears  wide  open.  Mrs.  Goldrick  continued  : 
"  Otto  said,  'now'Mother  Goldrick,  you  shall  have  your  two 
rooms  all  to  yourself;  I  am  going  to  build  an  addition  to  the 
house,  two  stories  high  ;  the  lower  part  shall  be  occupied  by 
the  janitor  of  my  houses,  and  a  stable  for  my  horse ;  but  up 
stairs,  I  will  have  three  rooms  for  myself.  You  shall  live 
rent  free ;  all  you'll  have  to  do,  is  to  keep  my  rooms  in 
order ;  besides  I'll  pay  board  as  usual.'  Otto ;  excuse  me 
for  calling  him  only  Otto,  but  I  think  I  have  the  right  to 
call  him  so,  for  as  you  know,  I  raised  and  nursed  him.  Well, 
Otto  went  to  work  building,  and  you  will  be  quite  surprised 
to  see  his  rooms.  He  has  taste,  for  I  never  saw  such  fur- 


186  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

nished  rooms  in  my  life,  and  in  my  young  days  I  have  seen 
many  nicely  furnished  rooms." 

"I  presume  Otto  receives  pretty  gay  company  in  his 
nicely  furnished  rooms,"  asked  Mr.  La  Monte,  with  a  non 
chalance. 

"Lord  bless  me,  no;  he  never  has  anybody  call  on  him, 
except  his  professor  of  music,  and  an  old  learned  Jewish 
Eabbi,  who  instructs  him  in  Latin  and  Hebrew;  Otto  is  a 
great  scholar,  he  is  a  great  student,  and  will  be,  one  of  these 
days,  a  great  man." 

Mr.  La  Monte  did  not  hear  the  last  remarks  of  old  Mrs. 
Goldrick.  What  was  uppermost  in  his  mind  was,  where 
does  Master  Otto  Wehlen  get  all  the  money  to  buy  whole 
blocks,  build  and  furnish  such  rooms,  keep  a  horse  and  a 
hostler,  and  the  Lord  knows  what  else. 

"  Please  show  me  the  way  to  his  rooms,"  asked  Mr.  La 
Monte,  politely. 

u  Everybody  who  visits  Otto  must  pass  my  room."  She 
opened  a  door  which  led  to  a  small  piazza,  and  knocked  on  a 
door.  Young  Wehlen  opened,  and  grew  deadly  pale,  as  he 
saw  his  employer  standing  before  him.  Mr.  La  Monte  said 
to  himself:  "  I  guess  I  have  caught  a  great  rascal,  but  if  this 
young  man  is  dishonest,  I  have  lost  my  faith  in  mankind." 

"  Walk  in,  sir,  walk  in,  sir,"  exclaimed  Otto,  "tell  me  the 
whole  truth,  don't  keep  anything  from  me,  tell  it  to  me  at 
once.  Please  be  quick,  sir;  suspense  is  terrible;  you  must 
know  it  is  all  I  have  on  earth  !" 

Mr.  La  Monte  was  quite  bewildered  when  he  saw  the 
princely  furnished  rooms.  They  were  three  in  number,  one 
leading  into  another,  with  large  drawing  doors,  painted  in 
frescoe,  representing  the  four  seasons  of  the  year,  while  the 
rear  wall  of  the  last  room  had  the  Niagara  Falls  painted  on 
the  entire  width  and  hight  of  the  room.  The  cataract  looked 
grand,  for  the  rooms  were  lit  by  sky  light,  with  curtains 
which  were  properly  drawn.  The  floor  was  covered  with 
velvet  carpets,  and  corresponded  well  with  the  frescoed 
walls.  The  furniture  was  of  rare  workmanship ;  there  was 


A   TALE   OF   KEAL    LIFE.  187 

also  an  octave  piano,  a  guitar,  flute,  and  several  book-cases. 
On  the  table  laid  an  open  book  of  Hebrew  print.  The  occu- 
pant of  this  suit  of  rooms  was  dressed  ready  to  go  out,  with 
the  exception  of  his  morning-gown,  which  he  yet  wore,  but 
it  was  unbuttoned,  since  he  intended  to  change  it  for  his 
dress  and  overcoat.  The  morning-gown  was  of  a  very  rich 
material,  lined  with  costly  furs. 

All  this  Mr.  La  Monte  observed  at  one  glance.  He  was 
meditating  what  to  say,  and  how  to  act  toward  the  young 
man. 

"You  are  splendidly  fixed  up  here,  Otto;  I  would  say,  al- 
most extravagantly,"  observed  Mr.  La  Monte. 

"Yes ;  but  all  loses  to  me  its  charm,  without  my  mother," 
answered  the  young  man. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that,  Otto  ?  "  asked  the  employer, 
in  surprise. 

It  was  the  young  man's  turn  to  look  surprised.  "  Then 
my  mother  is  well?"  he  said  ;  "nothing  happened  to  her. 
When  I  saw  you  coming  I  thought  my  mother  were  sick.  I 
have  not  seen  her,  though  she  called  several  times  at  my 
house.  I  serenaded  her  last  night,  and  when  she  looked 
from  her  window  I  was  almost  frightened.  She  looked  so 
pale  and  careworn,  and  that  made  me  now  think  that  some- 
thing serious  had  happened  to  my  dear  mother,  the  only 
living  relative  I  have." 

"Nothing  is  the  matter  with  your  mother.  I  passed  this 
house  and  observed  a  beautiful  horse,  held  by  a  very  polite 
hostler;  I  asked  him  the  owner's  name,  and  was  answered  : 
'Otto  Wehlen,  Esq.;'  so  I  thought  I  would  step  in  and  see 
whether  the  esquire  would  not  sell  the  horse.  I  wish  to  buy 
a  horse  for  my  son  Winfred,  and  yours  I  think  would  suit 
him,"  said  Mr.  La  Monte,  good  naturedly. 

"No,  I  can  not  sell  the  horse;  next  to  my  mother  it  is 
most  dear  to  me;"  said  Otto  Wehlen,  earnestly. 

"  You  would  not  sell  the  horse  even  to  me  ?"  asked  Mr. 
La  Monte. 

"  No,  I  will  not  sell  it  to  you,  for  money  can  not  buy  it ; 


188  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

but  if  you  think  you  can  not  get  a  horse  to  suit  your  son 
Winfred,  I  will  make  a  present  of  it  to  him,  and  will  feel 
happy  if  you  and  he  will  accept  it." 

"  So,  no  money  can  buy  the  horse  ?  Do  you  know,  young 
man,  that  there  are  only  two  classes  of  people  who  use  such 
language;  the  horse  jockey  and  the  nabob.  But  for  you,  a 
young  man  whom  I  have  brought  up,  such  language  is 
unbecoming,"  said  Mr.  La  Monte,  reproachfully. 

Otto  blushed  and  remarked:  "I  have  not  spoken  in  a 
boastful  manner;  I  really  value  the  horse  very  highly,  and 
would  not  part  with  it  for  any  consideration." 

"  I  never  knew  you  were  so  fond  of  horses,"  observed 
Mr.  La  Monte,  lost  somewhat  in  his  own  thoughts. 

"  You  will,  no  doubt,  recollect,"  answered  the  young  man, 
"when  you  first  took  me  in  your  employment,  that  I  was 
a  feeble  boy.  The  doctor  advised  mo  to  exercise  as  much 
as  possible.  I  took  every  morning  long  walks,  and  saved 
all  my  earnings,  until  I  was  able  to  buy  a  horse,  that  very 
horse  you  have  seen  and  praised  so  highly,  and  every 
morning  and  evening  I  went  out  riding.  I  rode  in  most 
every  direction  of  our  suburbs ;  and  one  day  I  observed  several 
acres  of  rocky  hills,  which  overlook  the  whole  neighborhood. 
The  thought  struck  me  to  become  the  owner  of  this  land, 
and  immediate!}7  I  set  to  work  to  ascertain  the  name  of  the 
proprietor.  I  went  to  him  and  asked  if  he  wished  to  sell  his 
land.  He  was  willing  to  do  so  and  I  bought  it,  finding  the 
price  quite  reasonable,  nay,  even  very  cheap.  This  bargain 
proved  to  be  a  very  lucky  speculation.  Some  large  builders 
in  search  of  a  suitable  quarry,  chose  my  land,  and  I  have 
leased  it  to  them  for  the  last  six  years.  They  pay  me  a  good 
price,  and  so  I  have  been  enabled  to  live  as  you  have  ob- 
served, very  comfortably,  and  would  even  feel  happy  if  I 
only  could  induce  my  mother  to  live  with  me,  but  she  will 
not  leave  your  house ;  and  all  this  I  owe,  so  to  say,  to  a  cer- 
tain extent,  to  my  horse ;  therefore  my  reluctance  to  part 
with  it." 

Mr.  La  Monte  listened  in  astonishment  and  surprise  to 


A  TALE   OP   REAL  LIFE.  189 

all  he  heard.  He  folt  humiliated  that  there  should  be  a 
young  man  in  his  employ  who  had  grown,  so  to  say,  from  a 
boy  to  manhood  under  his  very  eyes,  and  now  at  once,  had 
become  wealthy ;  lived  like  a  nabob  :  and  all  this  without 
having  the  slightest  knowledge  of  it.  "John  James  La 
Monte,  you  are  not  half  so  wide  awake  as  you  thought  you 
were  !"  exclaimed  he,  silently. 

"  I  am  glad  you  have  been  so  fortunate  in  your  invest- 
ments, and  I  am  not  at  all  astonished  that  you  value  your 
horse  so  highly ;  but  why  did  you  never  mention  this  to  me 
before  ?"  asked  Mr.  La  Monte,  earnestly. 

"  Because  you  never  asked  me  what  I  had  done  with  my 
savings,  and  you  did  not  wish  to  be  told  anything  by  your 
employees,  except  they  were  asked  to  do  so." 

"Yes,"  admitted  Mr.  La  Monte,  "  such  was  the  case."  He 
walked  about  the  room,  and  noticing  the  Hebrew  books,  he 
said  :  "  Otto,  please  tell  me  what  are  you  doing  with  those 
Hebrew  books  ?" 

"  I  am  now  studying  Hebrew  in  order  to  bo  enabled  to  read 
King  David's  psalms  in  their  original  language,  and  to  sing 
them  accompanied  by  the  harp.  It  will  be  a  pleasure  to  mo 
to  be  able  to  do  so,"  answered  the  young  man,  enthusi- 
astically. 

"And  before  whom  will  you  sing  and  play  King  Da- 
vid's psalms?"  asked  Mr.  La  Monte,  with  a  smile. 

"Before  whom?"  asked  Otto  Wehlen,  astonished  at  that 
question.  "  I  will  sing  the  psalms  and  play,  like  King  David 
did,  before  God  ;  and  give  thus  thanksgiving  to  Him  for  the 
many  favors  he  has  so  richly  bestowed  on  me." 

"  You  are  very  religious,  but  why  study  Hebrew  ?  You 
could  give  thanksgiving  and  pray  as  well  to  Our  Heavenly 
Father  in  our  own  language  ?"  remarked  Mr.  La  Monte. 

"Of  course  I  could,  but  it  seems  to  ma  more  solemn  to  sing 
and  accompany  those  sacred  songs  with  sacred  music,  such 
as  only  the  harp  can  produce  ;  beside  that,  I  wish  to  read 
the  history  of  the  Jews,  their  laws  as  Moses  gave  them ; 
with  all  the  sayings  of  their  prophets,  in  the  original  Ian- 


190  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

guage.  There  are,  unquestionably,  great  literary  treasures 
buried  in  the  Jewish  books,  which  may  prove  valuable  to  me." 

"  This  explains  to  me  why  you  are  so  very  friendly  to  our 
Jewish  customers,  you  always  treat  them  with  marked  re- 
spect," observed  Mr.  La  Monte. 

"  I  admire  them  because  they  have  bequeathed  the  best 
code  of  laws,  the  most  correct  conception  of  G-od,  as  the  one 
who  is  invisible,  who  is  the  King  over  all  the  kings ;  who 
alone  rules  the  universe,  and  beside  him  none  ;  who,  though 
the  most  omnipotent,  still  the  most  insignificant  creature  can 
look  up  to  Him  for  mercy  and  grace,  without  the  assistance 
of  any  one  ;  and  mercy  and  grace  shall  be  meted  out  to  those 
who  pray  for  it,  if  they  deserve  it,  for  G-od  is  just.'1 

"Are  these  your  doctrines?"  asked  Mr.  La  Monte. 

"Not  yet;  I  am  only  reflecting  on  them.  I  arn  still  hold- 
ing to  the  religion  of  my  mother,  but  I  must  confess  to  you 
that  I  am  much  displeased  with  our  priests.  They  are  no 
longer  ministers  who  preach  a  sermon  which  will  make  us 
better  men.  They  mount  the  pulpit,  but  not  prepared  to 
deliver  a  sermon  that  will  touch  the  heart,  and  open  the 
fountain  of  tears,  to  flow  in  sympathy  for  suffering  human- 
ity. Our  priests  have  become  political  hucksters,  and  flat- 
terers of  the  rich.  The  really  religious  instructors  are  be- 
coming rarer  daily.  We  have  no  pulpit  orators,  and  the 
consequence  is  that  the  churches  are  generally  empty.  The 
people  are  enlightened,  they  do  not  want  to  be  humbugged 
when  they  go  to  a  church;  they  wish  to  hear  a  sermon  that 
touches  their  better  feelings;  they  do  not  wish  to  hear  a  polit- 
ical harangue,  nor  a  theatrical  performance.  They  finally 
quit  the  church  altogether,  give  it  up,  like  myself,  and,  as  I 
do,  stay  at  home,  trying  to  unravel  the  great  question  which 
concerns  us  most — religion  and  the  existence  beyond  the 
grave — in  the  Bible,  or  other  great  works." 

Mr.  La  Monte  listened  to  the  young  man  with  great  atten- 
tion. He  fully  agreed  with  him  as  to  the  ministers  of  our 
day,  that  they  were  either  of  inferior  ability,  or  were  too 
lazv  to  prepare  their  sermons,  which  are  now  delivered  bung- 


A   TALE    OF    REAL   LIFE.  191 

lingly  and  in  a  disconnected  manner.  No  wonder,  then,  that 
two-thirds  of  the  congregation  take  their  nap  while  the  min- 
ister delivers  his  dry  sermon. 

Mr.  La  Monte,  while  examining  the  fresco  paintings,  and 
especially  the  one  representing  the  Niagara  Falls,  suddenly 
asked  his  receiving  teller: 

"What  is  the  length,  width,  and  hight  of  these  rooms?" 

"  The  three  rooms  are  one  hundred  feet  in  depth,  twenty- 
five  feet  wide,  and  twenty  feet  high ;  the  floor  is  sound- 
proof, "  answered  Otto  Wehlen,  promptly. 

"Is  this  your  own  conception  in  architecture?  and  why 
did  you  build  in  this  part  of  the  city?"  asked  Mr.  La  Monte. 

"  I  built  these  rooms  at  the  suggestion  of  my  music  pro- 
fessor, and  a  very  intimate  friend  of  mine,  an  artist,  who 
executed  these  fresco  paintings  for  me,  which  I  think  are 
very  creditable.  As  for  building  here,  this  part  of  the  city 
suits  me  best,  because  it  is  retired.  I  live  here  undisturbed, 
and  have  my  morning  and  evening  meals  nicely  prepared 
by  Mrs.  Goldrick,  who,  with  the  aid  of  the  hostler,  keeps 
these  rooms  in  order,"  answered  Otto. 

"  It  is  very  strange  that  a  young  man  like  you  should  de- 
sire to  live  so  retired,  and  see  so  little  of  the  world,"  said  Mr. 
La  Monte. 

"There  is  nothing  strange  about  it.  I  live  here  just  as 
plain  as  when  I  was  poor,  depending  on  my  salarv.  The 
only  difference  is  in  these  rooms,  which  my  income  enables 
me  to  possess,  and  which  are  furnished  with  every  comfort. 
I  look  for  happiness  within  myself,  and  not  without.  I  am 
not  secluded  from  the  world,  for  I  have  all  the  leading  news- 
papers and  magazines  on  file,  which  I  read  regularly,  and 
am  thus  well  posted  in  the  daily  doings  of  the  whole  world," 
explained  Otto,  taking  hold  of  a  small  table,  and  rolling  it 
from  the  corner  into  the  center  of  the  room. 

On  the  sides  of  this  table  were  two  wings,  which,  by  a 
touch,  flew  out  straight,  stretching  out  like  two  arms.  He 
lifted  the  cover  of  the  table,  which  divided  in  the  center,  and 
laid  the  parts  on  the  wings,  thereby  displaying  several  lead- 


192  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

in£  jinrmK     Owning  a  drawer  beneath,  there  were  all  the 
most  popular  magazines. 

"  You  will  notice,  Mr.  La  Monte,  that  I  have  all  the  world's 
doings  recorded  before  me,  and  of  which  I  constantly  avail, 
myself." 

The  young  man  folded  the  table  with  the  same  quickness 
he  opened  it,  and  returned  it  to  its  place. 

"  That's  what  I  call  practical,"  exclaimed  Mr.  La  Monte. 

"  It  is  of  my  own  contrivance.  I  drew  the  plan,  and  had 
the  table  made.  It  answers  the  purpose  well." 

"  I  don't  see,  Otto,  how  you  had  the  time  to  do  all  this,"  re- 
marked Mr.  La  Monte,  in  an  inquiring  tone. 

"I  have  plenty  of  time.  I  devote  eighteen  hours  to  ac- 
tivity, and  six  to  rest.  I  rise  every  morning  at  five  o'clock, 
and,  after  taking  a  bath,  read  the  morning  papers,  take  a 
cup  of  coffee,  and  then  take  a  horse-back  ride  for  an  hour 
and  a  half.  I  then  come  home,  eat  a  hearty  breakfast,  and 
walk  leisurely  to  the  bank,  where  I  remain  till  four.  On 
reaching  home  I  take  another  bath,  read  the  evening  paper, 
drink  a  cup  of  tea,  and  ride  again.  Coming  back  in  the 
evening,  I  eat  my  supper,  and  then  devote  the  remainder 
of  the  evening  to  literature  and  music.  Precisely  at  eleven 
I  retire,  and  sleep  soundly  for  six  hours." 

"And  how  do  you  spend  Sunday?"  asked  Mr.  La  Monte. 

"  Sunday  I  used  to  go  to  church,  but  since  I  could  not  find 
a  minister  who  preaches  a  sermon  worth  listening  to,  I  gen- 
erally remain  at  home,  and  devote  the  day  to  reading  and 
correspondence.  I  received  a  letter  yesterday  from  Paris, 
from  my  friend,  the  artist,  which  contains  some  information 
that  will  interest  you,"  and  the  young  man  opened  his  bu- 
reau and  brought  forth  a  letter,  which  read  as  follows: 

"  MY    DEAR    FRIEND    OTTO  : 

"It  is  a  year  to-day  since  I  ai'rived  in  this  gay  capital,  if 
dissipation  can  be  called  gay.  All  classes  appear  happy,  but 
the  more  I  see  of  this  people,  the  more  I  am  convinced  that 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  193 

there  is  a  deep  demoralization  and  discontent  at  the  bottom 
of  society  at  large. 

"  What  really  pleases  me  is  the  cleanliness  prevailing  in 
the  market  stalls,  and  the  butchering  of  animals  for  daily 
consumption,  which,  however,  is  not  original,  but  bor- 
rowed, to  a  large  extent,  from  the  Jewish  health  laws,  which 
that  ancient  people  practiced  before  Paris  existed. 

u  I  finished  my  painting  of  the  Falls  of  Niagara  last  month, 
for  the  Count  Pierre  La  Monte,  who  is  a  clever,  good-natured 
old  gentleman.  But  his  two  sons,  Louis  and  Murat,  are  way- 
ward boys,  if  wayward  is  the  proper  word  to  convey  to  you 
the  idea  that  they  are  gamblers,  forgers,  and  libertines,  who 
glory  in  their  exploits  of  robbing  females  of  their  virtue. 
The  old  gentleman  was  very  glad  to  accept  the  invitation  of 
your  Mr.  La  Monte,  for  it  will  relieve  him  of  the  two  mill- 
stones that  hang  around  his  neck. 

"The  young  Counts,  Louis  and  Murat,  consented  to  visit 
their  American  cousins,  in  order  to  get  a  fresh  supply  of 
money  from  their  father,  and  because  it  promised  a  new  field 
for  their  rascality. 

"  If  I  am  not  mistaken,  you  onoe  told  me  that  the  cashier 
La  Monte  had  rendered  to  you  and  your  mother  great  serv- 
ices, and  I  think  you  should  apprise  that  gentleman  what 
dangerous  characters  he  is  about  receiving  into  his  family. 

"I  contemplate  visiting  Berlin,  Prussia,  next  month,  and 
will  give  you  my  impressions  of  that  city  in  my  next, 

"  Hoping  this  letter  will  find  you  in  the  enjoyment  of  ex- 
cellent health,  and  that  you  will  remember  me  with  kindness, 
I  am  your  sincere,  grateful  friend, 

JULIUS  SOLOMON." 

"Who  is  that  correspondent  of  yours ?  Is  he  reliable?" 
asked  Mr.  La  Monte,  with  suppressed  curiosity. 

"He  is  a  young  man  of  excellent  character.  I  became  ac- 
quainted with  him  in  my  morning  walks  among  the  hills  of 
our  suburbs,  where  he  went  every  morning  and  evening,  for 
the  purpose  of  sketching.  It  was  he  who  pointed  out  to  mo 


194  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

the  advantage  of  purchasing  those  twenty  acres  of  land.  I 
laughed  at  the  idea  of  purchasing  rocks,  on  which  not  even 
a  pock  of  potatoes  could  be  grown,  but  he  said:  'to  a  large, 
growing  city,  rocks  are  of  much  greater  value  than  potatoes; 
potatoes  grow  everywhere  in  abundance,  and  can  be  trans- 
ported cheaply,  but  not  so  with  building-stone.'  My  friend 
reasoned  so  well  that  I  made  the  purchase,  and  his  prophecy 
has  been  verified.  Our  acquaintance  grew  into  a  warm 
friendship.  I  assisted  him  in  his  early  studies,  and  even  ad- 
vanced him  the  money  to  visit  foreign  schools,  to  perfect 
himself  in  his  chosen  profession,"  related  Otto,  frankly. 

"Where  are  those  twenty  acres  of  yours  located,  Otto?" 
asked  Mr.  La  Monte,  with  great  interest. 

"They  are  located  at  the  grand  entrance  of  the  Metropol- 
itan Park.  I  will  show  you,"  and  he  again  opened  his  bu- 
reau, took  out  a  map,  and  showed  exactly  where  his  land 
was  located.  "All  those  lines  you  observe  drawn  with  red 
ink,  mark  the  boundaries  of  my  lots." 

Mr.  La  Monte  could  not  suppress  his  astonishment,  and  ex- 
claimed : 

""Why,  Otto  Wehlen,  these  lots  would  sell  for  three  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  under  the  auctioneer's  hammer !" 

"  I  am  well  aware  of  it.  I  have  been  offered  half  a  mil- 
lion dollars  for  them,  one-half  in  cash,  and  the  balance  in 
one  and  two  years'  time,  bearing  six  per  cent,  interest,  and 
secured  by  a  mortgage  on  the  property.  But  I  declined  to 
sell,  preferring  to  hold  on  to  it  until  the  Park  is  completed, 
which  will  increase  its  value  considerably,"  said  the  teller, 
quietly. 

Mr.  La  Monte  appeared  completely  bewildered.  That  this 
young  man,  who  was  once  so  poor  that,  had  it  not  been  for 
him,  he  would  have  been  compelled  to  go  barefooted  and 
half  naked  in  even  the  coldest  weather,  should  now  be  the 
possessor  of  so  valuable  a  property,  and  yet  leading  a  life  so 
modest  and  unassuming  that  even  he,  who  saw  him  daily, 
had  not  noticed  the  slightest  change  in  dress  or  bearing. 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  195 

"And  do  you  intend  retaining  your  position  as  teller  in 
the  bank?"  asked  Mr.  La  Monte,  anxiously. 

"  I  certainly  do,  as  long  as  my  services  are  appreciated  by 
you  and  the  other  officers  of  the  bank,"  answered  Otto, 
promptly. 

"  Then  you  do  not  intend  going  into  business  for  yourself?" 
asked  the  cashier  again. 

"  I  do  not.  My  intention  is  to  follow  my  usual  occupation, 
and  to  live  just  as  though  I  had  not  made  that  fortunate 
purchase." 

The  two  gentlemen  appeared  lost  in  thought  for  a  short 
time,  when  Otto  continued  : 

"  Please,  excuse  my  rudeness ;  we  had  become  so  interested 
in  our  conversation  that  I  had  forgotten  to  wish  you,  my 
noble  benefactor,  a  very  happy  New  Year!"  He  brought 
a  bottle  of  excellent  wine,  and,  filling  two  tumblers,  he 
offered  one  to  Mr.  La  Monte,  saying : 

"To  your  health,  and  the  health  of  your  esteemed  family. 
May  God  shield  you  and  them  from  every  evil  I" 

"Thank  you,  Otto,  thank  you.  I  drink  to  your  health 
and  to  the  health  of  your  excellent  mother,"  responded  Mr. 
La  Monte. 

Both  drank  the  wine  and  made  ready  to  go,  Mr.  La  Monte 
inviting  Otto  to  be  sure  and  call  every  Sunday  and  every 
Wednesday  at  his  house,  as  his  mother  expressed  the  wish 
that  he  should  do  so. 

"Did  she,"  exclaimed  Otto,  joyfully.  "For  years  I  have 
been  begging  her  to  give  me  leave  to  visit  her,  but  she  would 
not  allow  it,  saying,  'you  might  not  like  it.'  I  tried  to  con- 
vince her  that  it  would  make  no  difference,  but  she  persisted 
that  I  should  not  call  to  see  her  at  your  residence ;  and  I 
am  now  truly  glad  that  she  has  changed  her  mind." 

"  Does  your  mother  know  of  the  wealth  you  now  possess  ?'' 
asked  Mr.  La  Monte. 

"  My  mother  knows  that  I  have  bought  some  land,  but  she 
has  no  idea  of  the  value;  I  did  not  inform  her  of  it,  thinking 
that  the  good  news  might  affect  her  health." 


196  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

"You  have  acted  very  wisely,  for  most  people  who  can 
bear  adversity  will  break  down  under  the  shock  of  sudden 
prosperity,  and  especially  is  that  the  case  with  women," 
remarked  Mr.  La  Monte,  giving  his  hand  to  the  young  man 
and  bidding  him  good  morning." 

Otto  Wehlen  left  also,  soon  after  his  visitor,  comfortably 
dressed  for  his  morning  ride.  He  found  the  man  leading  his 
horse  up  and  down  the  street. 

"A  happy  New-Year  to  you,  Mr.  "Wehlen,"  said  the  hostler, 
respectfully. 

"  Thank  you  ;  the  same  to  you,  Patrick,"  and  taking  out 
his  purse,  he  said:  "Patrick,  if  you  will  promise  me  not 
to  go  on  a  spree,  but  to  buy  something  handsome,  some- 
thing useful  for  your  sweetheart,  as  a  New-Year's  gift,  I  will 
give  you  some  money  as  a  New- Year's  present." 

"Not  a  drop,  sir;  not  a  drop  will  I  drink." 

"You  will  not  drink  a  drop,  but  a  whole  bottle,"  re- 
marked Mr.  Wehlen,  laughingly. 

"  No,  sir ;  last  night  my  sweetheart  made  me  sign  a  pledge, 
not  to  drink  any  intoxicating  liquors.  Ellen  is  a  smart  girl, 
and  the  way  she  talks  to  me !  and  Ellen  is  an  honest  girl,  too. 
She  said  that  another  girl,  by  the  name  of  Augustine,  who  is 
in  the  same  house  with  her,  warned  her  not  to  marry  me,  be- 
cause I  go  occasionally  on  a  spree — but  Patrick  McLaughlin 
shall  never  be  seen  drunk ;  he  will  be  worthy  to  make  Ellen 
his  wife  and  have  you  as  his  master." 

"  That  is  right,  my  boy,  keep  your  pledge,  and  marry  your 
Ellen  as  soon  as  possible,  she  will  help  to  keep  you  on  the 
right -path.  There,  take  this  twenty  dollar  bill,  and  buy 
your  Ellen  something  nice." 

"Thank  you,  squire;  don't  be  afraid,  the  bar-tender  shall 
not  change  this  bill  or  get  any  of  it;  but  Ellen  shall  get  a 
nice  shawl,  as  a  New-Year's  gift,  before  the  sun  goes  down 
to-day." 

Otto  Wehlen  mounted  his  horse  and  was  soon  seen  gallop- 
ing off  toward  the  suburbs  of  the  city.  He  was  a  splendid 
rider,  and  many  were  the  ladies  who  followed  him  with  their 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  197 

admiring  eyes,  as  he  passed  them  on  the  avenues.  Mrs.  La 
Monte,  who  met  him,  when  returning  from  the  depot,  with- 
out her  guests,  remarked  to  her  son  : 

"  Winfred,  did  you  see  the  elegant  looking  rider  passing 
us,  perhaps  he  is  one  of  the  Counts?" 

"  Yes,  mother,  but  he  is  no  Count,  he  is  the  teller  in 
father's  bank,"  answered  the  son. 

"You  don't  say;  only  a  teller  in  my  husband's  bank  and 
the  owner  of  such  a  horse  !  Perhaps  he  stole  the  money  in 
the  bank  and  bought  that  horse;- 1  must  tell  your  father  of 
it.  This  young  man  needs  watching,"  remarked  Mrs.  La 
Monte. 

"  I  do  not  think  the  young  man  is  dishonest.  He  looks 
like  a  perfect  gentleman,  and  is  a  great  many  years  in  father's 
bank,"  answered  Winfred,  earnestly. 

Mr!  La  Monte  went  direct  from  Otto  Wehlen's  home  to  the 
telegraph  office,  and  telegraphed  to  his  Paris  banker: 

"  Are  Count  Louis  and  Murat  La  Monte  men  of  good  moral 
character  and  entitled  to  be  believed  on  their  word  of  honor? 
Telegraph  at  once,  strictly  confidential.  Signed, 

JOHN  JAMES  LA  MONTE." 

After  requesting  the  operator  to  send  the  answer  as  soon 
as  received,  to  his  residence  by  a  special  messenger,  he  took 
his  way  home.  His  thoughts  were  busy  and  a  heavy  sigh 
escaped  his  breast  as  he  said  to  himself:  "My  wife  will  not 
reproach  me  any  longer  for  being  a  washwoman's  son.  I 
will  henceforth  command  respect  at  every  cost.  I  am 
anxious  for  the  answer  from  Paris,  so  as  to  arrange  my 
plans." 

Eeaching  his  residence  he  changed  his  clothes,  to  receive 
the  New- Year's  callers. 

Mrs.  La  Monte,  Miss  Eosalind  and  Miss  Viola  were  very 
appropriately  dressed,  but  Viola  and  her  mother  wore  more 
jewelry  than  ladies  of  refined  taste  would  have  thought 
proper. 


198  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

Many  were  the  New-Year's  callers  that  honored  the  cashier 
La  Monte  with  their  calls.  Among  them  were  also  some  of 
those  bank  depositors  who  always  renew  their  notes,  and 
whose  very  mercantile  existence  depends  on  the  whim  of  the 
cashier.  They  were  among  the  friendliest  and  most  devoted 
New- Year's  wishers  of  the  cashier  La  Monte. 

Messrs.  Overbeck  and  Fastleben  also  made  their  appear- 
ance. The  cashier  knew  them  to  be  the  partners  of  Edward 
Hunting,  and  looked  at  them  suspiciously,  as  he  noticed 
that  they  tried  to  win  the  good  graces  of  Eosalind  and  Viola. 

Eosalind  was  about  to  ask  the  partners  of  Mr.  Edward 
Hunting  in  regard  to  his  son.  The  father  guessed  what  his 
daughter  was  about  to  ask,  and  quickly  stepping  to  Over- 
beck  and  Fastleben,  asked  them  very  pleasantly  whether 
they  had  come  out  on  horseback  or  in  a  carriage. 

"In  a  carriage."  answered  Overbeck;  "and  with  horses," 
added  Fastleben,  who  was  under  the  influence  of  too  many 
New-Year's  drinks. 

Mr.  La  Monte  noticed  it,  and  motioning  his  daughters 
away,  he  whispered  to  Eosalind  : 

"It  seems  that  every  one  who  belongs  to  the  house  of 
Edward  Hunting  is  drunk." 

Eosalind  looked  at  her  father  with  surprise. 

"0  God,  my  mother  has  told  my  father  of  my  secret,  that 
I  love  Charles  Hunting.  Now  my  sufferings  will  increase. 
I  received  the  first  blow  by  that  remark,  'It  seems  that 
every  one  who  belongs  to  the  house  of  Edward  Hunting  is 
drunk.'  " 

Overbeck  and  Fastleben  soon  left,  and  Miss  Yiola  escorted 
them  to  the  door.  Just  as  she  was  about  closing  the  door, 
she  observed  a  solitary  horseman  entering  the  gate,  and 
that  rider  to  be  BO  other  than  the  beautiful  serenader. 
Yiola  laid  her  hand  on  her  heart  to  stop  its  violent  beating, 
so  excited  was  she  to  behold  him  again  who  impressed 
her  so  favorably,  and  who  now  on  horseback  appeared  even 
grander  than  before.  Such  a  handsome,  manly  face,  with 
such  a  love  of  a  moustache,  such  a  manly  form,  and  such 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  199 

chivalrous  mien,  she  never  beheld  before.  She  trembled  like 
a  leaf,  and  ran  to  her  father,  breathlessly  exclaiming: 

"  Pa,  a  horseman  —the  same  gentleman  who  serenaded  us 
last  night — just  came  in  by  the  gate.  Do  please,  pa,  tell  me 
who  he  is." 

Mr.  La  Monte  left  his  chair  quickly,  saying  to  himself,  "A 
great  crisis  is  near  at  hand,"  and  he  hurried  to  receive  his 
bank  teller  in  person,  and  escorted  him,  not  into  the  parlor, 
but  into  the  reception-room. 

Eosalind  observed  the  quick  motions  of  her  father,  and 
said  to  herself,  "  Some  one  of  distinction  must  have  arrived. 
Let  me  see  who  it  is,''  and  she  followed  her  father,  who  no- 
ticed her  coming,  and  said  : 

"Eosalind,  please  go  to  Mrs.  Wehlen  and  tell  her  to  please 
put  on  her  Sunday  attire,  and  call  in  the  reception-room." 

Eosalind  went  to  the  kitchen,  but  for  once  did  not  find 
Mrs.  Wehlon  there.  She  hurried  to  her  room,  and  found 
Mrs.  "Wehlen  dressed  in  her  best  clothes. 

"  Mrs.  Wehlen,  my  pa  wishes  to  see  you  in  the  reception- 
room." 

Mrs.  Wehlen  quickly  arose,  and  went  to  the  room  as  di- 
rected. 

As  soon  as  she  entered  the  room  her  son  rushed  toward 
her  with  a  joyous  exclamation,  "My  good  mother,  a  happy 
New-Year  to  you,"  kissing  her  hand,  ardently.  The  mother 
kissed  hi»-brow,  ejaculating: 

<:  Thank  you,  my  darling  son.     God  bless  you.     Amen." 

"Was  I  not  prompt  in  executing  your  order,  Mrs.  Wehlen? 
I  went  down  town  purposely  to  convey  to  Otto  your  desire 
to  see  him  often,"  remarked  Mr.  La  Monte,  in  a  fatherly 
tone. 

"You  have  always  been  very  kind  to  us,"  answered  Mrs. 
Wehlen.  "I  do  not  know  if  we  can  ever  repay  your  great 
kindness." 

"How  have  you  been,  my  dear  mother?"  asked  the  son, 
affectionately. 


200  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

"I  have  been  very  well,  only  I  began  to  feel  lonesome,  as 
I  have  not  met  you  several  times  when  calling  on  Mrs.  Gold- 
rick.  How  is  she?" 

"  Mrs.  Goldrick  is  well,  and  sends  you  her  respects. 
Mother,  you  do  not  say  anything  about  my  serenading  you 
last  night?" 

"Bless  me,  was  it  you  that  sung  and  played  so  hand- 
somely last  night,  and  that  serenade  was  meant  for  me  ?  If  I 
had  known  it  I  would  have  gone  down  in  my  night-gown 
and  kissed  you.  You  are  a  good  son,  a  noble  boy,"  and  she 
stepped  to  him  and  caressed  him,  as  only  a  loving  mother 
knows  how  to  caress. 

Viola  quickly  entered  the  room,  and  looked  with  inde- 
scribable astonishment  to  see  Mrs.  Wehlen  caressingly  play 
with  the  curls  of  the  young  man  who  so  enchanted  her. 
She  soon  recovered  her  presence  of  mind,  made  a  courtesy 
before  the  young  man,  and,  turning  to  her  father,  said: 

"A  cable  despatch  from  France  has  been  received.  Here 
it  is.  Please  sign  the  receipt." 

While  Mr.  La  Monte  signed  the  receipt,  Mrs.  Wehlen  im- 
proved the  opportunity,  and  took  her  son  by  the  hand  and 
introduced  him  to  the  young  lady,  saying: 

"  Miss  Viola,  I  have  the  pleasure  to  introduce  to  you  my 
only  son,  Otto  Wehlen." 

"  Heavens !  what  a  blow  !"  thought  Yiola.  "  That  splendid 
young  man  with  whom  I  am  in  love — I  know  that  I  love 
him,  for  he  is  constantly  before  my  vision — is  the  son  of  our 
cook,  the  woman  whom  she  had  mistreated  in  the  most 
cruel  manner,  before  whom  she  had  not  tried  to  restrain  her 
temper,  and  from  whose  eyes  she  had  wrung  tears  of  agony 
and  despair.  All  this  flashed  through  the  mind  of  Viola, 
but  she  made  before  the  son  of  the  cook,  Otto  Wehlen,  that 
profound  bow  which  was  intended  for  the  Counts  Louis  and 
Murat. 

Young  Wehlen  was  surprised  at  the  bow  of  humility,  and 
looking  upon  that  bow  as  a  token  of  respect  to  his  mother, 
as  not  so  much  to  himself,  he  reciprocated  with  a  bow  of 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  201 

the  greatest  respect  and  consideration,  which  delighted 
Viola,  and  she  blushed  deeply  as  she  felt  that  young  Otto 
looked  at  her  with  admiring  eyes,  for  the  young  lady  made 
as  favorable  an  impression  on  the  young  man  as  his  presence 
did  on  her. 

The  quick  practical  eye  of  John  James  La  Monte  readily 
noticed  what  was  going  on,  and  thought  Otto  Wehlen  is  trump. 
He  has  mastered  the  great  life  lessons — first,  to  say  no!  sec- 
ond, to  keep  his  own  counsel,  and,  to  crown  the  whole,  he 
has  perfect  health,  and  his  estate  will,  in  a  few  years,  be 
worth  about  a  million  of  dollars.  He  is  a  capital  fellow,  and 
to  have  such  a  young  man  as  son-in-law  is  "trump."  His 
young  friend,  Julius  Solomon,  must  be  a  man  of  correct  ob- 
servation, for  the  information  as  regards  my  cousins  is  con- 
firmed. "The  telegram,"  and  he  read  it  again,  which  con- 
sisted of  these  four  words,  We  recommend  great  caution,  "set- 
tles it  that  the  Counts  Louis  and  Murat  are  dangerous 
chaps,  and  my  house  must  not  be  open  for  them.  - .»  . 

"  Viola,  here,  take  the  message-book,  and  tell  the  man 
that  there  is  no  answer  to  this  telegram." 

Viola  took  the  book,  made  another  respectful  bow,  and 
left  the  room. 

Rosalind  entered  and  announced  that  Grandmother  Bott- 
well  had  honored  them  with  a  call  and  was  lamenting  that 
the  Counts  from  France  had  not  arrived  :  "  And  she  wishes 
to  see  you.  pa,  immediately,  to  give  her  an  explanation." 

Eosalind  was  in  such  haste  to  summon  her  father  that  she 
hardly  took  time  to  observe  the  presence  of  Mrs.  Wehlen  and 
the  young  stranger. 

"  Miss  Rosalind,  allow  me  to  introduce  to  you  my  son 
Otto,"  said  Mrs.  Wehlen. 

Eosalind  came  forward  and  extended  her  hand  to  him, 
saying:  "I  am  very  glad  to  know  you.  The  son  of  Mrs. 
Wehlen  may  well  be  proud  of  such  a  noble  mother.' 

Otto  gently  took  the  proffered  hand,  and  thanked  Miss 
Eosalind  for  her  kind  allusions  to  his  mother,  and  assured 


202  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

her  that  it  was  his  aim  in  life  to  make  a  return  for  the  great 
blessing. 

Mr.  La  Monte  arose,  and  invited  Mrs.  Wehlen  and  her  son 
to  accompany  him  to  the  parlor,  to  be  introduced  to  Grand- 
mother Bottwell  and  the  rest  of  the  family.  Mrs.  Wehlen 
excused  herself,  but  urged  her  son,  who  appeared  reluctant, 
to  accept  the  invitation. 

On  entering  the  parlor,  which  was  illuminated  with  two 
very  large  chandeliers,  Grandmother  Bottwell  was  discovered 
sitting  in  the  middle  of  the  room,  and  reflected  in  two 
grand  mirrors  which  reached  from  the  floor  to  the  ceiling. 
Her  face  was  wrinkled  with  age,  and  was  profusely  powdered 
and  painted  in  the  vain  attempt  to  hide  the  deep  furrows  of 
time.  Her  hair,  which  was  naturally  gray,  was  frizzled  and 
colored,  except  at  the  roots,  where  the  dye  failed  to  reach, 
and  she  had  ingeniously  fastened  a  waterfall  to  the  top  of 
her  head,  which  was  bald.  She  was  so  loaded  down  with 
her  finery  that  she  could  hardly  walk,  and  made  herself  still 
more  ludicrous  by  her  efforts  to  appear  young  and  fascinat- 
ing. 

"  John,"  said  she,  in  a  broken  voice,  "  where  are  your 
cousins,  the  Counts?  Daughter,  what  are  their  given 
names?" 

"  Count  Louis  and  Count  Murat,"  answered  Mrs.  La  Monte, 
promptly. 

"  Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Bottwell,  "  your  cousins,  the  noble  Counts 
Louis  and  Murat  La  Monte." 

"  I  have  just  received  a  cable  telegram  which  explains 
their  non-arrival  satisfactorily,"  answered  Mr.  La  Monte. 

"So  they,  or  their  friends,  have  sent  an  ocean  telegram, 
explaining  their  non-arrival,"  observed  Grandmother  Bott- 
well. 

"  Yes  ;  friends  have  telegraphed,"  said  Mr.  La  Monte,  and 
wishing  to  cut  short  the  conversation  on  that  subject,  he 
introduced,  with  marked  civility,  Otto  Wehlen,  Esq.,  to  his 
wife  and  his  mother-in-law.  In  introducing  him  he  men- 
tioned the  name  Otto  and  Esquire  loud,  but  the  name  Wehlen 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  203 

was  pronounced  in  so  low  a  tone  as  to  be  scarcely  heard  by 
the  ladies.  They  fastened  their  eyes  in  wonderment  on  the 
good-looking  young  man. 

Mrs.  La  Monte,  wishing  to  say  something,  remarked  :  "  The 
name  of  Otto  is  now  a  very  honored  one,  being  the  given 
name  of  Count  Von  Bismarck,  the  great  Prussian  Premier." 

"He  is  more  than  that;  ho  is  the  greatest  statesman  of 
our  age!"  observed  Otto  Wehlen,  with  enthusiasm. 

Mr.  La  Monte  was  afraid  that  the  conversation  would  lead 
to  the  disclosure  of  the  fact  that  Otto  was  the  son  of  his 
cook ;  he,  therefore,  requested  Viola,  in  a  loud  tone,  to  play 
her  new  piece  for  their  guests. 

"  Which  piece  do  you  mean,  pa?"  asked  Viola,  naively. 

Mr.  La  Monte  gave  his  wife  an  appealing  look  for  aid, 
which  flattered  her  into  promptly  saying:  "  Viola,  your  pa 
means  the  crowning  march  of  the  "Prophet,"  by  that  great 
composer,  Meyerbeer." 

Viola  was  delighted  that  she  should  play  that  piece.  She 
had  practiced  it  the  whole  year. 

"  Otto,  will  you  please  assist  me  to  open  the  piano."  Otto 
bowed  to  the  ladies  and  went  with  Mr.  La  Monte  to  open  the 
piano;  but  before  doing  that  he  withdrew  the  piano-stool 
and  adjusted  it  to  the  right  higbt. 

Mrs.  La  Monte  observed  the  movement,  and  was  greatly 
pleased  with  it.  "That  young  man  is  a  gentleman,"  said 
she,  to  herself.  "  Now,  come  to  think  of  it,  he  is  the  horse- 
man I  met  this  morning,  and  whom  Winfred  spoke  of  as  the 
teller  of  my  husband's  bank." 

Winfred  just  entered  the  room,  and  was  motioned  toby  his 
mother.  "  Winfred,  is  that  young  man  at  the  piano  not  the 
horseman  we  met  this  morning,  who,  you  said,  is  the  teller 
in  your  father's  bank?" 

"  Yes,  ma,  he  is." 

Viola  now  struck  the  first  notes,  and  perfect  silence  pre- 
vailed. Otto  stood  attentively  at  her  side,  turning  over  the 
leaves  of  the  music  book  as  she  progressed  in  her  playing. 

Viola  was  pleased  to  have  him  near  her,  and  glanced  up 


20i  CUE   PROSPECTS. 

several  times  to  catch  the  expression  of  his  face.  When  the 
grand  march  of  Meyerbeer  was  finished,  the  performer  was 
warmly  applauded,  and  Otto  gallantly  conducted  her  to  her 
father. 

Grandmother  Bottwell  complimented  her  granddaughter 
on  her  fine  playing,  and  said  that  Viola  played  full  as  well 
as  she  herself  did  when  she  was  a  few  years  younger.  She 
stepped  up  to  the  piano  and  commenced  to  play  "  Yankee 
Doodle,"  expecting  to  receive  applause  for  the  effort. 

All  felt  that  Grandmother  Bottwell  was  making  herself 
ridiculous,  except  Mrs.  La  Monte,  who  thought  that  her 
mother  looked  really  well  in  her  trailing  silk  dress,  her  low 
waist,  adorned  with  a  rose,  and  with  her  diamonds,  when 
playing  the  piano. 

Mr.  La  Monte  looked  for  his  wife,  leaving  Otto  and  Viola 
alone,  who  were  mutually  well  pleased  to  have  the  field  all 
to  themselves.  They  conversed  about  songs  and  music,  and 
Viola  even  gathered  courage  to  compliment  Otto  on  his  last 
night's  serenade,  which  she  thought  was  superb. 

"  I  have  serenaded  my  good  mother,"  answered  he.  "  Had 
I  known  that  I  was  honored  with  such  beautiful  listeners,  I 
would  certainly  have  sung  the  serenade  of  the  opera  '  Alles- 
sandre  Stradella.'  " 

Viola's  heart  fluttered  at  these  words;  she  blushed  and 
tried  to  look  in  another  direction,  not  daring  to  meet  the 
glance  of  him  who  now  fathomed  the  eifects  ot  his  words  on 
her.  He  too  blushed  and  felt  a  strange  sensation.  It  was 
the  holy  feeling  of  first  love.  They  both  loved  each  other. 

Mr.  La  Monte  noticed,  with  pleasure,  the  signs  of  love  be- 
tween the  young  couple. 

"  That's  right,"  said  he.  "  I  hope  they  will  progress  and 
soon  tie  the  silken  knot  of  marriage.  I  don't  desire  a  better 
son-in-law  than  him,  with  his  good  health,  good  habits,  good 
business  knowledge,  and  besides  backed  by  a  million  of 
dollars  in  real  estate ;  such  son-in-laws  are  scarce  nowa- 
days. I  really  hope  that  nothing  will  happen  to  prevent 
such  an  excellent  match  for  Viola,"  and  he  turned  to  his  wife, 


A.   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  •  205 

saying  :  "It  is  tea  time,  I  think  you  ought  to  invite  mother 
to  take  tea  with  us." 

"I  prefer  to  wait  and  serve  the  tea  after  that  young  clerk 
is  gone,"  answered  Mrs.  La  Monte. 

Mr.  La  Monte  bit  his  lip,  and  said:  "I  have  invited  the 
young  man  to  tea  ;  he  is  my  guest." 

"  Invited  him  without  asking  me  for  permission,  sir  !  You 
must  know  that  I  am  a  born  Bottwell,  and  know  all  about 
etiquette.  I  do  think — " 

Mr.  La  Monte  became  alarmed ;  he  was  afraid  of  a  scene 
and  called  Eosalind,  whispering  to  her  : 

"Please  tell  Mrs.  Wehlen  to  set  the  table  for  two  persons 
more  than  usual,  grandmother,  and  her  son  will  sup  with  us." 

Rosalind,  like  a  good  daughter,  asked  no  questions,  but 
went  to  carry  out  the  order.  Mrs.  Wehlen  was  delighted, 
her  cup  of  happiness  was  full :  to  think  that  her  son,  once 
the  poor  orphan  boy,  should  now  be  the  invited  guest  of  the 
banker.  What  great  happiness  it  must  be  for  a  mother  to 
see  her  son  honored  !  What  were  all  the  years  of  suffering 
compared  with  this  great  joy  she  now  experienced  ! 

Mrs.  Wehlen  quickly  set  to  work  to  rearrange  the  sapper- 
table,  saying  :  "  Dry  beef  and  toast  is  not  sufficient  for  sup- 
per this  evening,"  and  she  prepared  a  few  omelets  and  muffins, 
calling  also  Jim  to  go  in  the  hot-house  and  cut  a  few 
flowers  to  make  a  couple  of  bouquets,  for  Grandmother  Bott- 
well was  fond  of  them. 

Eosalind,  helping  Mrs.  Wehlen  who  was  all  excitement 
and  bustle,  returned  soon  to  the  parlor  and  announced  that 
supper  was  ready. 

Otto  and  Yiola  were  promenading  the  rooms,  very  grace- 
fully. Music  was  still  the  theme  of  their  conversation, 
but  their  eyes  spoke  their  thoughts  plainer  than  words  could 
convey. 

Viola  remarked,  "So  you  know  the  opera  'Stradella;'  I 
have  that  opera  in  my  note  case,  arranged  for  song  and 
music.  Would  you  please  sing  and  play  it  ?" 


206  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

"Not  without  the  consent  of  your  mother,"  answered  Otto, 
promptly. 

Viola,  without  giving  any  answer,  turned  toward  her 
mother,  saying,  in  a  graceful  manner: 

"  Ma,  our  guest  can  sing  and  play  the  opera  '  Stradella.' 
"Will  you  have  any  objection  for  him  to  play  it?" 

u  Not  at  all,  my  child.  I  am  very  fond  of  opera  music ; 
but  tea  is  ready." 

Yiola  did  not  stop  to  listen  to  anything  more,  and  said  : 

"  Mr.  Otto,  you  will,  of  course,  take  tea  with  us,"  taking 
his  arm  at  the  same  time. 

Mr.  La  Monte  overheard  the  invitation,  and  said,  "  Of 
course,  Otto,  you  must  take  tea  with  us  and  spend  your 
evening  here/'  and  took  his  wife's  arm.  Winfred  invited 
his  grandmother  and  escorted  her  to  the  dining-room  ;  Otto 
and  Yiola  followed,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  La  Monte  closed  the 
dazzling  procession  :  Grandmother  Bottwell  dazzling  with 
jewels,  Yiola  dazzling  with  youth  and  jewels,  and  Otto  feel- 
ing proud  with  Yiola  on  his  arm.  Truly,  Goethe  was  right 
when  he  wrote  those  words  : 

"  Der  Jugend  gehort  die  Welt." 
"  To  youth  belongs  the  world." 

At  the  head  of  the  table  sat  Mr.  La  Monte  ;  to  his  right 
the  grandmother,  to  his  left  Mrs.  La  Monte,  next  to  her 
Eosalind,  Yiola,  Winfred  and  Otto. 

Everything  was  well  arranged  on  the  table,  and  many  a 
compliment  was  made  as  to  the  most  excellent  cooking,  but 
Otto  missed  one  very  important  ceremony,  that  of  saying 
grace  before  eating.  He  felt  inclined  to  say  grace  himself, 
but  thought  of  the  old  advice :  "  When  one  is  in  Eome  he 
must  do  as  the  Eomans  do."  He  prayed  in  silence,  un- 
observed. 

"  Mother,"  said  Mrs.  La  Monte,  "  Why  did  not  father  come 
with  you?" 

"  Your  father  would  not  come  because  he  calls  everything  ' 
vanity.  To  go  and  visit  a  friend  is  vanity;  to  go  to  the  opera 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  207 

is  vanity ;  to  go  to  church  is  vanity ;  he  even  calls  me,  in  his 
ill  natured  moments,  vanity ;  and,  to  use  his  own  words, 
'  Queen  of  Yanity.'  My  husband  is  a  very  cruel  man,  every- 
thing is  vanity  with  him,  except  5-20  and  10-40  bonds,  and 
shares  in  your  husband's  bank.  That  is  what  he  calls  worth 
having  ;  that  is  what  he  admires  and  gives  his  attention  to; 
everything  else  is  vanity.  Had  I  known  your  father  as 
well  as  I  know  him  now,  I  would  never  have  married  him. 
Forty  years  have  I  suffered  what  no  pen  can  describe,  for 
my  husband  who  only  worships  money — who  only  lives  for 
it,  never  did  care  for  his  beautiful  and  accomplished  wife," 
said  Grandmother  Bottwell,  looking  around  with  an  air  as  if 
to  say,  Am  I  not  what  I  claim  to  be  ? 

Mr.  La  Monte  felt  sad,  very  sad  indeed,  at  the  words  and 
manner  of  his  mother-in-law.  "That  is  what  I  can  expect 
to  hear  from  my  wife  in  a  few  years,"  said  he  to  himself. 
His  father-in-law  was  an  intelligent  and  practical  man;  but 
he,  like  a  thousand  other  husbands,  did  not  take  the  time  to 
educate  his  wife;  that  is  to  reason  with  her  in  time,  as  to 
her  vanity,  and  other  excesses,  which  the  wife  indulged  in. 
He,  like  a  thousand  other  men,  was  too  anxious  to  get 
wealthy;  and  when  he  had  succeeded,  and  become  a  rich 
man,  he  was  still  yearning  for  something  else,  for  worldly 
honors.  So  he  passed  his  time,  and  the  wife  grew  gray  in 
vanity,  and  in  unreasonableness,  instead  of  being  a  comfort 
to  him  in  his  declining  years.  She  was  a  thorn  that  pricked 
him,  and  often  he  had  to  complain  of  his  wife's  silliness  and 
vanity.  But  it  is  he  who  was  to  blame,  for  it  was  his  duty 
to  educate  his  wife  up  to  his  standard,  and  not  to  neglect 
her  intellectual  development.  It  is  the  most  solemn  duty  of 
every  man  to  educate  his  wife,  and  to  assist  her  in  keeping 
up  with  him  in  mental  development  and  knowledge ;  and  if 
the  wife  has  neither  the  capacity  nor  the  will  to  do  so,  far 
better  for  the  husband  to  become  less  rich,  and  less  promi- 
nent in  society,  but  he  should  concentrate  all  his  mental  en- 
ergy and  powers  for  the  education  of  his  children,  and  dedi- 
cate all  his  free  moments  to  the  purpose.  But  to  do  justice 


208  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

to  Mr.  La  Monte,  such  were  the  thoughts  that  passed  his 
mind,  when  he  had  listened  to  his  mother-in-law's  remarks. 

Mrs.  La  Monte,  too,  felt  very  unhappy  at  the  remarks  of 
her  mother.  She  considered  them  unlady-like,  to  say  the 
least,  and,  wishing  to  efface  the  impression  they  had  made 
upon  the  hearers,  she  observed  : 

"  Why,  mother,  you  are  saying  all  this  about  my  father  in 
a  joke.  He  is  one  of  the  noblest  men  in  the  country." 

"  Child,  you  are  mistaken  ;  you  do  not  know  your  father 
as  well  as  I  do." 

Mr.  La  Monte  became  alarmed,  for  fear  his  mother-in-law 
might  again  indulge  in  her  abuses  against  the  unhappy  hus- 
band and  grandfather,  and  quickly  took  hold  of  the  plate 
containing  the  dried  beef,  cut  in  slices,  saying,  in  the  most 
respectful  manner : 

"  Mother,  allow  me  to  wait  on  you  with  some  of  this  beef." 

Mrs.  Bottwell  did  not  deign  to  answer.  She  only  motioned 
with  her  hand  and  head,  no.  Mr.  La  Monte  then  took  the 
plate  with  toast,  saying: 

"Do  me  the  honor,  and  take  some  of  this  toast.  The 
piece  on  your  plate  got  cold  while  you  were  speaking.  Do, 
please,  take  the  bottom  piece  on  the  plate." 

"Don't  urge  me  so,  John.  I  am  used  to  having  my  own 
will,"  said  Grandmother  Bottwell,  almost  angry. 

"That  is  the  trouble,"  thought  the  son-in-law.  Ho  then 
said,  "When  I  have  guests  at  my  table,  I  like  to  see  them 
eat  heartily,  else  I  must  think  that  they  don't  like  my  supper. 
Please,  have  some  milk  on  your  toast,  mother.  Do,  please 
take  some  of  this  hot  cream ;  the  toast  is  a  little  too  dry." 

Grandmother  Bottwell  allowed  her  son-in-law'  to  pour  some 
milk  on  her  toast,  and  then  said: 

"What  was  I  saying?  You  do  not  know  your" — she 
could  not  finish,  for  Mr.  La  Monte  now  urged  her,  in  his  kind- 
est manner,  to  have  some  sugar  on  the  toast,  and  commenced 
to  explain  how  toast  ought  to  be  eaten.  <l  When  dry,  it  ought 
to  be  buttered,  but  only  with  sweet,  not  salty  butter.  If  the 


A  TALE  OP   REAL   LIFE.  209 

toast  is  served  with  milk,  it  had  to  be  powdered  with  sugar. 
Grandmother  must  have  some  sugar  on  her  toast." 

For  the  sake  of  keeping  Mr.  La  Monte  quiet,  she  allowed 
him  to  put  some  powdered  sugar  on  her  toast,  and  com- 
menced again : 

" Child,  you  do  not  know  your  father" — 

Mr.  La  Monte  was  determined  to  prevent  her  from  abusing 
her  husband  in  the  presence  of  his  family,  and  said: 

"Grandmother, you  do  not  seem  to  eat;  the  toast  must  not 
taste  well  to  you.  Have  a  muffin,  with  fresh,  sweet  butter. 
They  are  very  good.  Do  me  the  honor,  and  eat." 

"  John,  please,  do  not  harass  me  so  much.  I  am  used  to 
having  everything  my  own  way.  "When  I  want  anything,  I 
will  ask  for  it,"  said  Grandmother  Bottwell,  firmly. 

The  son-in-law,  finding  that  his  strategy  did  not  answer 
its  purpose,  resigned  himself  to  listen  to  Mrs.  Bottwell. 

"  Child,  you  do  not  know  your  father  as  well  as  I  do. 
Your  father  is  an  unreasonable  man,  a  cruel  man,  at  least  to 
me.  I  intended  to  have  a  pair  of  velvet  slippers  made  for 
myself,  lined  and  trimmed  with  fur,  and  with  velvet  rosettes, 
set  with  genuine  emeralds  and  other  beryl  stones.  I  told 
your  father  of  my  intention,  and  you  ought  to  have  heard 
how  he  cried,  'Vanity!  Vanity!'  Then  he  commenced  to 
swear  (he  swears,  since  he  is  an  alderman),  but  all  in  vain. 
I  ordered  the  slippers,  and  had  them  made  exactly  as  I  told 
him.  The  bill  was  sent  to  him  for  payment.  Yes,  he  paid, 
but  he  swore,  and  had  the  audacity,  nay,  impudence,  to  call 
me,  his  wife,  Mrs.  Bottwell,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  John  James 
La  Monte,  me !  a  model  of  a  wife, — no,  I  can  hardly  say  it — 
he  called  me,  a  vain  old  goose!" 

Otto  could  hardly  restrain  himself  from  laughing  right 
out.  Mr.  La  Monte's  face  was  red  with  rage,  while  his  wife 
and  children  blushed.  Mrs.  Bottwell,  noticing  the  change 
in  the  various  countenances,  continued  : 

"  But  I  do  not  care  a  fig  what  he  says.  I  have  my  slippers, 
with  the  handsome  rosettes,"  and  she  stooped,  took  off  one 
of  the  slippers,  and  showed  it  to  the  company. 


210  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

This  was  more  than  Mr.  La  Monte  could  stand.  He  arose, 
and  the  company  soon  followed  his  example.  Mrs.  Bott- 
well  put  on  her  slipper,  took  Winfred's  arm,  and  lifting  her 
dress  in  front  so  that  both  the  rosettes  could  be  seen,  sailed 
out  with  the  rest. 

The  family  went  to  the  parlor,  where  Yiola  reminded 
Otto  of  his  promise  to  play  the  opera  Stradella. 

The  widow's  son  sat  down  by  the  piano,  his  voice  echoed 
throughout  the  house,  and  in  the  hall  stood  Mrs.  Wehleri, 
listening,  with  a  happy  heart,  to  the  splendid  singing  and 
playing  of  her  son.  She  felt  gratified  in  her  heart  to  hear 
the  applause  and  praise  which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  La  Monte,  with 
their  daughters,  bestowed  upon  her  son.  She  clasped  her 
hands  together,  and  gave  thanks  to  the  Heavenly  Father, 
who  is  the  Father  of  all,  and  who  protects  the  widow  and 
the  orphan  with  special  grace. 

Otto  Wehlen  had  finished  his  song;  the  young  people  were 
looking  over  the  note  case,  selecting  different  pieces  which 
they  intended  singing  together.  "Winfred  took  his  fiddle, 
which  he  tuned  with  a  skill  that  plainly  proved  he  knew 
how  to  handle  that  charming  instrument.  Eosalind  took  a 
seat  at  the  piano.  She  was  not  as  dashing  a  player  as  her 
sister,  but  she  played  more  feelingly. 

"  I  will  play  Norma,"  said  she,  "  and  then  you,  Mr.  Otto, 
and  Viola  will  sing  a  duet  from  the  opera  of  La  Travietta. 
Winfred  and  myself  will  accompany  you." 

Rosalind  played  "  Norma  "  with  so  much  feeling  that  she 
was  moved  to  tears.  Otto  observed  it,  and  said  to  himself; 
"  That  young  lady  has  fine  feelings  and  mourns  for  some 
dear  friend."  He  applauded  even  more  enthusiastically  than 
he  did  her  sister. 

Grandmother  Bottwell  did  not  like  the  piece,  "where  one 
had  to  cry,  she  liked  music  that  makes  one  feel  merry." 

Mrs.  La  Monte  said  :  "  The  opera  '  Norma  '  is  one  of  the 
finest  compositions,  but  she  agreed  with  her  mother;  it  made 
one  feel  sad  to  hear  it.  The  children  will  now  play  some- 
thing merrier." 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  211 

"VVinfred  gave  the  sign  with  his  bow,  and  the  duet  began. 
It  was  somewhat  difficult  for  Otto,  for  he  h"  I  never  before 
sung  with  a  young  lady  in  a  duet;  but  Rosalind  and  Win- 
fred  were  excellent  accompanists,  and  came  promptly  to 
his  assistance.  As  the  duet  reached  the  most  interesting 
part,  the  door  bell  was  violently  pulled.  Mrs.  Wehlen  being 
still  in  the  hall,  listening  to  the  duet,  quickly  opened  the 
door.  A  lady  with  disheveled  hair  entered,  pushed  Mrs. 
Wehlen  aside,  and  rushed  in  the  parlor.  Seeing  Mrs.  La 
Monte,  she  threw  herself  on  her  knees  before  her,  exclaim- 
ing : 

"Mrs.  La  Monte,  on  my  knees  I  implore  you  to  allow  the 
good  Mrs.  Wehlen  to  come  to  my  house  and  help  me  to  nurse 
my  sick  baby." 

The  young  people  paused  in  their  performance,  being  thus 
strangely  interrupted  by  the  late  visitor.  They  saw  a  young 
woman  of  great  beauty  and  evidently  of  good  family  con- 
nection, kneeling  before  the  lady  of  the  house,  and  heard 
her  saying: 

"  Mrs.  La  Monte,  think  of  the  time  when  your  children 
were  sick  and  how  good  it  was  to  have  help  and  assistance. 
You  yourself  related  to  me  how  Mrs.  Wehlen  nursed  your 
children,  and  that  she  saved  the  life  of  Viola.  I  have  done 
my  best  to  secure  such  a  help  as  Mrs.  Wehlen,  but  did  not 
succeed ;  for  love  or  money,  I  can  not  keep  a  servant,  and  I 
am  so  helpless  in  my  domestic  work  that  1  do  not  know  how 
to  prepare  the  least  food  for  my  baby.  He  looks  so  strange 
to-night,  I  am  afraid  he  will  die,  if  I  do  not  get  help  to  nurse 
him.  O,  God  !  why  am  I  so  helpless !  Archy  will  die,  be- 
cause I  am  ignorant  of  house-keeping.  Archy !  Archy  !  what 
will  your  poor  mother  do  without  you!"  and  the  unhappy 
young  mother  wept.  All  were  deeply  moved,  but  none  so 
much  as  Otto,  who  looked  and  listened  with  great  attention. 

"  Mrs.  La  Monte,  I  beg  you,  grant,  my  request,  have  pity 
on  my  only  child,  allow  the  good  Mrs.  Wehlen  to  stay  with 
me  only  a  day  or  two  until  my  boy  recovers.  I  will  blesa 
you  for  your  kindness." 


212  OFR  PROSPECTS. 

"Mrs.  Emerson,  you  have  no  claim  on  me;  we  are  only 
neighbors,  and  as  a  neighbor  you  ask  too  much.  Mrs.  Weh- 
len  is  my  servant." 

At  these  words  Otto  stepped  forward  and  said,  in  a  com- 
manding voice: 

"  Madam,  Mrs.  "Wehlen  is  your  servant  no  longer." 

Mrs.  La  Monte  rose  from  her  chair  quite  enraged,  and 
looking  with  contempt  at  the  young  bank  clerk,  she  said : 

"Sir,  you  are  perhaps  not  aware  that  you  are  speaking  to 
Mrs.  John  James  La  Monte,  who  is  a  born  Bottwell,  or  are 
you  crazy,  like  the  woman  kneeling  before  me  V" 

"  I  am  aware  that  you  have  the  honor  to  be  the  wife  of 
John  James  La  Monte,  Esquire,  and  are  a  born  Bottwell.  I 
have  the  honor  to  be  Otto  Wehlen,  the  son  of  Mrs.  Wehlen. 
I  never  make  an  assertion  I  can  not  back  with  facts.  Mrs. 
Wehlen,  my  mother,  is  your  servant  no  longer."  Then  turn- 
ing to  the  young  weeping  Mrs.  Emerson,  he  said  :  "  Arise, 
madam,  my  mother  will  go  directly  to  your  house  and  help 
your  baby." 

Mrs.  Emerson  left  the  room  as  suddenly  and  unceremoni- 
ously as  she  had  come. 

Mrs.  La  Monte  could  not  recover  from  her  surprise  and 
astonishment,  that  the  young  man  whom  she  had  so  much 
admired  when  he  was  serenading  his  mother,  when  she  saw 
him  on  passing  her  on  the  avenue,  or  when  in  attendance  of 
her  daughter  Viola  at  the  piano,  the  young  man  who  was  so 
graceful  and  accomplished,  and  who  was  a  guest  at  her  table, 
and  Mrs.  Wehlen's  son,  had  spoken  to  her  in  such  a  com- 
manding voice :  "  Mrs.  Wehlen  is  your  servant  no  longer." 

Mr.  La  Monte  was  very  angry  to  see  that  matters  had 
taken  such  a  grave  turn. 

"  Grandmother  Bottwell's  foolish  talk  and  action  at  the 
table,  and  the  heartlessness  of  his  wife  toward  that  unhappy 
and  despairing  Mrs.  Emerson  might  prevent  Otto  from  offer- 
ing his  hand  to  Yiola,  and  he  would  lose  such  an  excellent 
son-in-law." 

Little  and   unimportant  matters  are  often  in  the  way  of 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  213 

success,  and  even  reduce  wealthy  families  to  a  degrading 
poverty. 

Otto,  addressing  Mr.  La  Monte,  said  : 

"  Sir,  I  hope  you  will  not  be  angry  with  me,  I  am  only 
doing  my  duty." 

"I  am  not  angry,  but  think  that  you  acted  hastily;  escort 
your  mother  to  Mrs.  Emerson,  she  lives  close  by,  let  her  see 
the  child,  and  do  all  she  can  for  it,  then  bring  your  mother 
back  to  my  house.  I  will  consider  it  a  personal  favor  if  you 
will  do  as  I  direct." 

Otto  made  no  reply,  but  seemed  lost  in  thought. 

"  Rosalind,  Rosalind,"  called  the  father,  "  please  go  and  call 
Mrs.  Wehlen ;  tell  her  I  wish  to  see  her." 

Rosalind  did  as  directed,  but  could  not  find  Mrs.  Wehlen, 
and  reported  so  to  her  father. 

"  Then  she  has  already  gone  to  Emerson's." 

"Where  does  Mrs.  Emerson  live?"  asked  Otto,  quickly. 

"Rosalind,  you,  Viola  and  Winfred  will  please  show  Otto 
where  the  Emersons  live.  You  can  stay  there  and  assist 
the  unhappy  lady,  who  has  so  much  trouble  with  her  help. 
Poor  woman,  she  thought  Mrs.  Wehlen  was  our  servant. 
Mrs.  Wehlen  is  like  one  of  the]  family." 

"  So  I  always  thought,"  observed  Otto,  "  but  I  did  not  like 
the  tone  and  language  Mrs.  La  Monte  used  in  regard  to  my 
mother." 

Grandmother  Bottwell  thought  it  was  about  time  for  her 
to  go  home,  and  ordered  her  carriage.  Mrs.  La  Monte  as- 
sisted her  to  put  on  her  velvet  cloak,  her  furs,  and  her  fur 
hat,  and  at  last  Grandmother  Bottwell  was  seated  and 
wrapped  up  in  her  rich  and  gay  afghan.  The  coachman  was 
about  starting,  when  she  called  Mrs.  La  Monte,  who  had  to 
see  whether  she  had  both  her  velvet  rosettes,  with  those 
costly  stones. 

"Yes,"  said  Mrs.  La  Monte,  "I  felt  them.  The  rosettes 
are  in  their  place." 

The  mother  left  without  kissing  any  one  of  her  grand, 
children.  Her  thoughts  were  busy  with  her  dresses  and 


214  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

jewels.  She  could  not  love  anything  else  but  her  gaudy 
ornaments,  and  she  spent  all  the  time  with  beautifying  her 
debilitated  body;  her  spirit  was  neglected,  and  only  lingered 
within  her,  but  did  not  live  to  act. 

"We  now  dismiss  Grandmother  Bottwell.  She  is  past  re- 
demption, and  the  sooner  she  sinks  into  the  grave  the  better 
for  her  and  mankind,  whom  she  has  disgraced  with  her 
presence.  And  old  Mr.  Bottwell,  whose  greatest  ambition 
had  been  to  accumulate  wealth,  who  held  the  controlling 
stocks  in  the  bank,  with  his  5-20s  and  10-40s,  and  who  be- 
came, in  the  eleventh  hour  of  his  life,  an  alderman,  only 
to  secure  the  public  funds  as  deposits  in  his  bank,  let 
him  pause  for  a  moment,  and  behold  the  wreck  of  his 
wretched  wife.  It  is  not  her  fault;  it  is  his.  He  has 
corrupted  his  wife  by  his  great  desire  for  wealth.  He  prac- 
ticed vanity  before  her  every  moment  of  their  married  life, 
but  never  charity  ;  he  never  prayed ;  he  never  acknowledged 
God  before  her ;  nothing  but  money ;  and  finally  it  became  a 
habit  with  her  to  spend  money,  not  for  charity  or  any  other 
good  purpose ;  no,  all  the  money  she  spent  was  for  her  own 
self,  on  the  altar  of  vanity. 

Poor  old  Bottwell !  with  all  your  great  wealth  you  are 
poorer  than  the  poorest  laboring  man  who  earns,  by  hard 
work,  only  a  dollar  and  a  quarter  a  day  to  support  a  large 
family,  and  yet,  nevertheless,  he  is  richer  than  you,  for  he 
has  a  wife  who  feels  for  her  children,  for  her  husband,  and 
her  neighbors,  a  wife  who  feels  that  she  has  a  great  duty  to 
perform,  that  of  setting  a  good  example  to  her  children  and 
neighbors.  That  poor,  unlettered  laborer,  and  his  unedu- 
cated wife,  fulfill  this  duty:  they  are  industrious,  and, 
though  poor,  do  not  complain  ;  they  divide  even  their  little 
with  those  still  more  in  need,  and  so  teaching  their  children 
to  be  charitable  to  their  fellow- men. 

Old  Mr.  Bottwell  was  never  inspired  with  such  ennobling 
thoughts.  He  knew  that  a  man's  happiness  depended,  to  a 
large  extent,  upon  having  a  good  wife;  he  knew  that  a  man 
should  be  charitable,  and  give  good  examples  to  his  fellow- 


A   TALE   OP   EEAL   LIFE.  215 

men ;  he  knew  that  it  was  a  man's  duty  to  advance  public 
prosperity,  knowledge,  and  happiness  among  the  great 
masses.  He  knew  all  that,  but  he  did  not  heed  it;  his  only 
aim  of  life  was  to  get  rich,  and  the  more  wealth  he  accumu- 
lated the  poorer  he  became.  He  felt  that  though  wealthy  he 
was  still  poor ;  he  felt  that  his  wife  was  only  a  burden  of 
annoyance  and  vexation  to  him;  of  his  daughter  and  grand- 
children he  did  not  see  often,  for  he  never  cared  much  for 
them.  They  were  not  money,  and  it  might  cost  something 
to  pay  them  a  visit.  By  the  community  at  large  he  passed 
as  a  nobody,  for  he  never  was1  known  to  do  one  good  act  for 
the  public  welfare.  Old  Mr.  Bottwell,  notwithstanding  his 
ability  and  his  wealth,  was  a  blank — a  mere  shadow.  Alas! 
we  have  many  such  "  Bottwells  "  who  retard  public  pros- 
perity and  happiness,  but  let  us  hope  that  they  will  see 
their  shortcomings,  and  reform,  so  that  their  number  might 
become  less. 

Miss  Eosalind,  Miss  Yiola,  and  Winfred  were  ready  to 
accompany  Otto  to  Mrs.  Emerson's.  Both  sisters  wore  the 
gay  colored  dress  so  becoming  to  make  a  neighborly  call. 
Nubias  white  and  soft  as  the  fallen  snow,  with  a  neat  blue 
border,  were  tied  around  their  heads,  hightening  their  com- 
plexion, especially  that  of  Yiola,  who  felt  very  happy  when 
Otto  offered  to  her  his  arm,  which  she  gracefully  accepted. 

The  moon  shone  in  full  majesty,  the  air  was  clear  and  re- 
freshing, and  the  ground  hard  frozen.  The  young  people 
enjoyed  the  walk.  Eosalind,  on  the  arm  of  Winfred,  walked 
ahead,  deeply  engaged  in  reviewing  what  had  happened 
at  their  house.  Both  thought  that  their  mother  was  not 
treating  their  father  well.  Both  agreed  that  their  ma  laid 
too  much  value  on  titles,  and  both  were  glad  that  those 
Counts  had  not  arrived.  They  had  something  to  say  about 
their  grandmother,  and  how  unbecoming  she  had  acted. 

"It  is  fortunate,"  said  Eosalind,  "that  Mr.  Wehlen  is  a 
gentleman,  and  will  not  relate  to  others  what  he  has  seen 
and  heard  to-day  in  our  house.  Yes,  Mrs.  Wehlen  can  bo 
proud  of  her  son ;  but  if  he  knew  how  Yiola  has  treated  his 


216  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

mother,  he  would  not  pay  so  much  attention  to  her,"  observ- 
ing, by  a  turn  of  the  road,  the  young  people  in  a  very  ani- 
mated conversation. 

Otto  requested  Viola  to  inform  him  in  regard  to  Mrs. 
Emerson. 

"  She  is  the  only  daughter  of  Mrs.  Badheart,"  said  Yiola, 
"and  has  been  married  about  fifteen  months,  her  parents 
presenting  her  with  a  completely  furnished  house  at  her 
wedding.  Mr.  .Emerson  is  an  assistant  secretary  in  an  insur- 
ance business;  an  easy-going  sort  of  a  man,  who  dresses  very 
fash  ion  abty ;  goes  to  his  business  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing and  returns  at  two,  and  spends  considerable  of  his  time 
after  that  hour  at  billiards.  He  is  said  to  affect  poetry,  and 
consumes  an  immense  number  of  cigars  to  aid  him  in  his 
efforts.  I  don't  think  much  of  Mr.  Emerson  ;  he  is  so  weak 
and  uncertain.  I  have  heard  that  he  was  the  cause  of  his 
parents  losing  the  greater  part  of  their  money.  Am  I  going 
too  much  into  particulars?"  asked  Viola,  looking  up  into  his 
eyes. 

Their  eyes  met,  and  the  heavenly  flame  of  love  united  two 
souls ! 

Otto  and  Viola  were  no  longer  mere  friends;  it  was  the 
old  story  of  love  at  first  sight. 

"  No,  no  ;  give  me  full  particulars.  I  am  listening  to  you 
attentively." 

Viola  clung  still  closer  to  the  manly  arm,  and  proceeded  : 
"  The  Emersons,  somehow,  did  not  get  on  well ;  they  had  a 
great  deal  of  trouble  with  their  domestic  affairs,  and  Mr. 
Emerson  takes  his  meals  away  from  home.  Mrs.  Emerson 
dined  with  us,  but  ma  thought  she  overstepped  the  bounds 
of  etiquette  in  making  a  practice  of  it.  Then  your  good, 
self-sacrificing  mother  went  to  their  assistance,  and  aided 
Mrs.  Emerson  in  her  household  duties,  of  which  she  is  totally 
ignorant;  and  since  her  baby  was  born,  your  mother  has 
been  more  with  Mrs.  Emerson  than  with  us.  Ma  thought 
she  was  doing  too  much  for  them,  and  objected."  Viola 
paused ;  they  had  reached  the  house. 


A  TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  217 

On  entering,  they  found  everything  in  the  greatest  dis- 
order, the  room  cold,  and  full  of  smoke.  Mr.  Emerson,  in  his 
dressing-gown,  was  stirring  the  fire ;  the  grate  was  full  of 
ashes,  and  an  empty  coal-scuttle  stood  by  the  fire-place.  A 
cradle,  containing  an  infant,  a  boy  of  nearly  six  months, 
stood  in  the  room — a  beautiful,  bright-eyed  child,  but  show- 
ing plainly  the  almost  criminal  neglect  of  its  mother.  It 
had  the  colic;  a  little  tea  timely  given  and  good  attentive 
nursing  would  have  probably  saved  the  child;  but  Mrs. 
Emerson,  like  thousands  of  her  sex,  did  not  know  how  to 
cook  even  a  cup  of  tea,  or  how  to  nurse  a  child.  It  was  no 
wonder,  therefore,  that  the  baby  should  have  grown  seriously 
sick.  The  child  was  dying,  when  they  entered  the  room. 

The  mother,  on  her  knees  before  the  cradle,  watched  her 
baby  with  despair  and  hope  plainly  written  in  her  face.  The 
child  was  dead.  It  is  impossible  to  describe  the  mother's 
despair  and  grief. 

"  Archy,  why  did  you  die?"  she  cried;  "what  shall  I  do 
without  you?  You  were  all  I  had  on  earth.  Archy  !  Archy ! 
would  I  had  died  instead  of  you !  Oh,  God!  take  me  to 
you,"  she  prayed,  "let  me  be  with  my  child,  my  darling !" 

She  began  to  weep ;  but  all  at  once  she  arose  from  her 
kneeling  position,  rushed  toward  her  husband,  grasped  him 
by  his  arm  and  cried  :  "You,  Plato  Emerson,  are  no  man  ; 
you  are  not  worthy  of  having  a  wife;  you  were  not  able  to 
manage  a  household  ;  you  are  the  murderer  of  my  child  !  I 
will  strangle  you,"  hissed  the  bereaved  woman,  with  glaring 
eyes,  and  grasping  his  neck.  She  had  lost  her  reason. 

Otto  hastened  to  release  the  husband  from  her  grasp,  or 
else  the  woman  would  have  strangled  the  father  of  her  child. 
She  then  rushed  from  the  room,  left  the  house,  and  with  the 
speed  of  a  deer,  hastened  toward  her  father's  home.  The 
fresh  air  somewhat  revived  her  reason.  She  reached  the 
house  and  violently  pulled  the  door  bell.  Mr.  Badheart 
looked  from  the  window  to  see  who  was  ringing  and  knock- 
ing so  violently. 

"It  is  Magdalena,"  said  he  to  his  wife,  who  had  already 


218  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

retired,  being  unwell,  and  went  down  stairs  to  open  the  door. 
He  started  back,  as  he  beheld  his  daughter,  who  rushed  up 
stairs  in  her  mother's  room,  loudly  exclaiming :  "  Archy,  my 
Archy,  is  dead  !  You  have  killed  him,  you,  mother,  are  the 
murderess.  You  did  not  teach  me  housework ;  you  made  me 
a  helpless  creature,  I  could  not  attend  my  child  and  nurse  it 
as  I  ought  to.  I  had  no  sisters  or  brothers,  and  you  know 
why  !  You  told  me  of  it,  you  instructed  me  in  that  terrible 
secret."  The  young  mother  fell  on  her  knees ;  her  lips 
moved  in  prayer.  The  fountain  of  tears,  which  had  dried  up 
in  her  and  nearly  upset  her  reason,  commenced  to  flow  again. 
The  poor  mother  found  relief  in  prayer  and  tears.  Blessed 
are  those  who  can  weep  when  they  mourn. 

Mrs.  Badheart,  conscious-stricken  at  the  sight  of  her 
daughter  and  at  the  name  of  murderess,  received  such  a  shock 
that  she  never  recovered,  and  in  a  few  days  was  a  corpse, 
buried  near  her  only  grandchild. 

Mrs.  Emerson  never  returned  to  live  with  her  husband. 
The  lawyers  managed,  for  a  round  fee,  to  get  the  couple  di- 
vorced. Mrs.  Emerson  soon  died  of  a  broken  heart,  and  Mr. 
Badheart,  who  ought  to  have  known  better  than  to  allow  his 
wife  to  practice  prevention,  was  in  his  old  age,  alone, 
without  a  wife,  without  a  child,  without  grandchildren.  He 
felt  lonely  and  dreary,  and  daily  prayed  for  death  to  come 
and  end  his  misery,  for  it  is  terrible  to  live  alone,  unloved 
and  uncared.  At  last  he  died,  and  there  was  none  left  of 
the  family  of  Badhearts,  their  wish  and  aim  of  having  no 
children  had  been  completely  fulfilled. 

Let  those  who  act  like  the  Badhearts  take  a  lesson  of 
this  sketch,  for  the  laws  of  nature  know  of  no  compromise. 
To  what  extent  this  evil  is  practiced  is  a  question  of  vital 
importance  to  the  whole  nation;  if  only  one-half  the  reports 
are  true  that  the  medical  fraternity  exposes,  then  it  is  highly 
necessary  that  this  crying  evil  should  receive  prompt  legisla- 
tive action,  and  to  make  all  those  connected  with  this  vil- 
lainous practice  liable  to  punishment  and  to  serve  a  long 
term  in  the  penitentiary.  Let  the  clergy  for  once  bury  their 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  219 

differences,  and  give  their  whole  attention  to  a  crime  which 
cries  before  God  and  man  ;  let  them  use  their  pulpit  eloquence 
to  denounce  that  hideous  crime  which  undermines,  with  a 
death  certainty,  the  future  existence  of  a  great  people.  Let 
the  press  thunder  forth  their  protest  against  a  practice  which 
makes  every  honest  man  and  woman  blush  with  shame. 
Fiat  justitia,  mat  ccelum,  "Let  justice  be  done  though  the 
heavens  should  fall." 

Plato  Emerson  felt  greatly  relieved  on  being  released  from 
the  infuriated  grisp  of  his  bereaved  wife.  He  made  no  effort 
to  recall  her,  but  exclaimed: 

"  If  such  is  married  life,  I  have  enough  of  it.  Always  com- 
plaints, always  troubles ;  for  one  ounce  of  comfort  I  get  a  ton 
of  vexations  and  irritations  !  The  greatest  suffering  which  I 
experienced  is  that  my  boy  has  died,"  and  he  stepped 
to  the  cradle,  saying :  "  Poor  Archy,  it  is  a  pity  that  you 
died,  you  would  have  been  a  great  poet,  whose  poetry  would 
have  delighted  the  world  ;"  turning  to  Eosalind,  Yiola,  Win- 
fred  and  Otto,  who  stood  near  the  cradle,  "Yes,  my  kind 
visitors,  my  son,  if  he  would  have  lived  to  become  a  man, 
would  have  been  a  second  Shakespeare.  I  would  have 
given  all  I  possess  to  save  him.  Archy  Emerson  would  have 
done  great  honor  to  me !  He  died  for  the  want  of  good 
nursing.  Somehow  we  can  keep  no  servants,  and  my  wife 
don't  know  how  to  work  herself.  They  know  that  the  lady  of 
the  house  is  helpless,  and  can  not  do  without  assistance,  and 
are,  therefore,  so  unreasonable,"  and  Mr.  Plato  sighed,  deeply. 

"  Otto,"  said  Mrs.  Wehlen,  "you  will  please  escort  the  chil- 
dren home,  and  try  to  return  to  the  city  before  it  becomes 
much  later.  I  will  stay  here,  wash  and  dress  the  corpse,  and 
remain  on  watch  until  some  of  the  relatives  of  the  family 
come." 

Otto  did  not  like  to  leave  his  mother  behind,  but,  under 
the  circumstances,  he  had  to  be  satisfied.  He  escorted  the 
young  ladies  and  their  brother  home.  They  were  all  sad, 
and  their  thoughts  were  busy  with  what  they  had  seen  and 
heard.  Viola  especially  was  unhappy,  for  she,  for  the  first 


220  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

time,  realized  the  obligations  she  was  under  to  Mrs.  Wehlen, 
for. she  knew  that  her  mother  was  as  ignorant  of  domestic 
duties  as  Mrs.  Emerson,  and  if  it  had  not  been  for  Mrs. 
Wehlen  their  house  would  have  been  as  desolate  as  hers. 

"  How  unreasonable ;  how  unlady-like  have  I  been  toward 
Mrs.  "Wehlen,"  she  mentally  ejaculated.  "  I  hope  she  will 
forgive  me.  0,  what  will  her  son  think  of  me  when  he  is 
informed  of  my  treatment  of  his  mother!"  This  seemed 
to  trouble  her  more  than  anything  else,  for  she  loved  Otto, 
as  well  as  a  nature  like  hers  was  capable  of  loving. 

They  reached  their  residence  in  silence.  Otto  would  not 
enter  the  house,  but  bid  them  an  affectionate  good-night; 
thanking  them  for  their  courtesies,  he  mounted  his  horse, 
and  handing  the  hostler  a  ten  dollar  bill,  he  said: 

"  Here,  my  good  fellow,  is  a  ten  dollar  note ;  as  soon  as 
Mrs.  Wehlen  returns  from  the  Emerson's,  go  to  the  nearest 
livery-stable  and  hire  a  carriage,  and  bring  her  and  her  bag- 
gage to  my  residence  in  the  city.  She  will  direct  you  how 
to  find  it." 

Jim  took  the  ten  dollar  bill,  and  promised  to  do  as  he  was 
directed.  "  But,"  said  he,  "  I  do  not  think  that  Mrs.  Wehlen 
will  leave  the  house,  she  is  a  part  of  the  family.  So,  you. 
are  her  son?  I  did  not  know  that  she  had  such  a  fine  son." 

"  Will  you  be  sure  to  hire  the  carriage,  and  bring  my 
mother  to  the  city  ?"  asked  Otto,  in  an  earnest  tone. 

"Of  course  I  will,"  answered  Jim. 

"  Whatever  is  left  of  the  ten  dollars,  after  paying  tho 
costs,  you  can  keep  as  a  present." 

"  Thank  you,  thank  you  !"  exclaimed  Jim. 

Otto  rode  slowly  home.  The  past,  the  present  and  the 
future  seemed  to  appear  before  his  vision  ;  he  thought  of  his 
childhood.  He  had  a  faint  recollection  of  the  lonely  garret, 
and  its  scanty  furniture;  of  his  almost  despairing  mother; 
of  Mr.  La  Monte's  visit  to  the  tenement  house,  in  search  of 
a  young  or  middle  aged  person,  who  could  perform  house- 
hold duties,  and  who  was  blessed  with  the  gift  of  patience; 
who  could  hear,  see  and  feel  wrong,  and  still  perform  her  du- 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  221 

lies  silently ;  how  his  poor  mother  -was  pointed  out  as  the 
person  who  possessed  all  these  rare  qualities ;  and  how  she 
was  engaged. 

"  Eealize  my  expectations,  and  you  and  your  child  shall 
never  know  want,"  had  been  Mr.  La  Monte's  words. 

He  vividly  remembered  how  his  mother  threw  herself  on 
her  knees  and  thanked  God  that  He  had  heard  her  supplica- 
tions, and  sent  that  man  as  a  protector  for  her  and  her  child. 
How  she  prayed  that  God  might  give  her  strength,  and  en- 
dow her  with  patience. 

He  drew  in  the  reins  of  his  horse,  and  exclaimed  :  "  It  is 
strange  that  I  never  thought  of  those  scenes  so  distinctly 
before."  And  he  rode  on  and  reflected  how  he  was  left  in 
charge  of  Mrs.  Goldrick ;  how  he  clung  to  the  dress  of  his 
mother,  and  entreated  her  to  take  him  with  her;  how  she 
weepingly  told  him  that  she  could  only  see  him  occasion- 
ally;  that  his  new  father  had  appointed  Mrs.  Goldrick  as  his 
guardian.  How  well  Mrs.  Goldrick  treated  him,  and  how 
nicely  she  equipped  him  for  school,  with  something  for  re- 
cess in  his  school  bag ;  and  when  he  reached  the  age  of  thir- 
teen, and  was  admitted  as  one  of  the  employees  in  the  bank ; 
how  Mr.  La  Monte  lectured  him  on  honesty,  and  how 
strictly  he  remembered  his  command:  "  Not  a  pin  dare  you 
take!"  How  he  took  him  to  the  jail,  showed  him  all  the 
dark  cells  and  prisoners,  and  then,  when  they  left  the  dreary 
place,  told  him,  "  Eemember,  my  lad,  all  those  prisoners 
you  have  seen,  and  the  thousands  you  have  not  seen, 
have  commenced  their  career  by  stealing  first  but  the  value 
of  a  pin  ;  then  they  went  in  bad  company,  and  now  will,  in 
all  probability,  end  their  daj-s  in  prison."  How  he  took 
the  Holy  Bible,  opened  the  immortal  book  and  made  him 
take  a  solemn  oath,  that  he  would  always  be  as  honest  as  the 
purest  gold.  "Now,  my  lad,  said  he,  "  whenever  you  see  the 
sky;  whenever  you  eat  or  drink,  remember  your  oath,  of 
being  as  honest  as  the  purest  gold." 

A  happy  smile  illuminated  the  handsome  and  manly  face 
of  Otto  Wehlen,  as  he  exclaimed  : 


222  CUE  PROSPECTS. 

"Thank  God,  I  have  kept  my  oath,  and  can  say  with  a 
certainty  that  I  will  be  always  an  honest  man.  '  An  hon- 
est man  is  the  noblest  work  of  God.'  " 

The  reflecting  young  man  reached  his  house  before  he  was 
aware  of  it.  Patrick  was  waiting  to  receive  the  horse,  and 
said : 

"Squire,  if  the  blessings  of  a  young  girl  have  the  power 
to  make  a  man  happy,  I  will  be  the  happiest  man  in  the 
world,  for  Ellen  was  so  delighted  with  the  broache  shawl 
I  made  her  a  present  of,  that  she  could  hardly  thank  and 
bless  me  enough  for  it ;  and  her  friend  Augustine  thought 
the  shawl  beautiful.  She  presented  me  with  a  cup  of 
tea,  saying  :  "  Sir,  keep  your  pledge,  to  abstain  from  intoxi- 
cating drinks,  and  you  will  live  a  happy  life,  and  become  a 
grandfather,  respected  by  all.  If  you  would  not  get  angry 
with  me  I  would  suggest  that  Augustine  would  make  the 
prettiest  and  best  Mrs.  Otto  "Wehlen  in  the  world." 

Otto  knew  that  Patrick  was  speaking,  but  did  not  hear 
him,  as  his  mind  was  still  busy  with  the  past ;  the  beautiful 
face  and  the  bewitching  manners  of  Viola  were  uppermost  in 
his  thoughts.  He  reached  his  comfortable  apartments,  where 
Mrs.  Goldrick  served  tea  in  a  few  moments,  and  waited  on 
him  with  the  care  of  a  loving  mother.  Mrs.  Goldrick  noticed 
that  he  was  absorbed  in  thought,  and  soon  left  the  room. 

"  Alone !"  exclaimed  he,  "  I  am  always  alone  ;  these  are 
the  same  rooms  in  which  I  have  passed  my  time  so  pleasantly 
for  years ;  and  yet  why  do  I  feel  so  lonely  to-night?" 

He  walked  up  and  down  his  room  in  an  abstracted  man- 
ner, but  soon  sought  his  couch.  "  Now  I  know  why  I  am 
so  lonesome,"  he  exclaimed  ;  "  for  God  has  ordained  that  man 
should  not  be  alone.  The  time  has  arrived  to  heed  this 
admonition.  Viola"!  on  the  wings  of  the  wind  I  send  thee  a 
kiss."  He  uttered  a  short  prayer,  and  soon  fell  asleep. 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE. 


CHAPTEE    XI. 

THE  SINNER'S  TEAR. 

My  soul  is  sore  with  grief  and  pain, 

My  sins  depress  this  frame  of  dust, 
I  know  I  am  a  mortal  vain, 

And  Thou,  O  God,  art  great  and  just. 
"  The  suns  to  Thee  impure  appear." — 

My  God,  behold  the  sinner's  tear. 

The  sting  of  guilt,  O  horrid  word  ! 

Dejects  my  heart  to  nameless  woe, 
I  know  Thou  art  my  righteous  Lord, 

And  I — the  passion's  hunted  roe. 
*  Too  great  my  guilt,  too  great  to  bear," 

My  God,  behold  the  sinner's  tear. 

In  silent  nights  I  groan  and  sigh, 

I  wet  my  couch  with  tears  so  hot. 
At  early  morn  I  pray  and  cry, — • 

Forgive  my  sins,  forsake  me  not. 
"Be  gracious  Lord,  my  prayers  hear," 

My  Father,  dry  the  sinner's  tear. 

Repentance  wounds  the  contrite  heart, 
Consumes  my  bones,  bedims  my  way; 

Transgressions  bid  my  joys  depart, 
And  darkness  hides  the  light  of  day. 

"Have  mercy,  Father,  see  my  fear," 
My  God !  behold  the  sinner's  tear. 

Dr.  Isaac  M.  Wise. 

CHARLES  HUNTING,  who  is  not  an  entire  stranger  to  our 
readers,  was  one  of  those  young  men  who  are  petted  and 
favored  by  their  mothers.  Mrs.  Hunting  was  one  of  them. 
Her  Charles  had  his  own  way ;  she  praised  him  in  his  pres- 
ence, and  when  the  father  was  going  to  punish  him  for  mis- 


224  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

behavior  or  ill  manners,  she  always  took  her  son's  part. 
When  he  was  eight  years  of  age,  she  bought  him  a  velvet 
suit,  a  ruffled  shirt  with  gold  buttons,  and  a  velvet  cap  with 
a  feather.  He  was  dressed  dandy-like,  and  soon  imitated 
and  assumed  the  air  of  such  a  one.  His  mother  gave  him 
also  a  purse  with  money,  and  soon  he  learned  to  spend  it  as 
carelessly  as  his  mother  and  sisters.  When  the  son  called  too 
frequently  on  Mrs.  Hunting  for  money,  she  referred  him  to 
his  father,  who  said:  "My  son,  you  have  all  you  need  at 
home ;  you  want  no  money  until  you  know  the  value  of  it; 
but  I  fear  you  will  never  know  it  until  you  are  compelled  to 
earn  it  yourself."  Charley  was  not  pleased  with  his  father; 
his  mother  had  given  him  already  too  much  money,  and  ho 
was  used  to  have  money  and  to  spend  it.  He  again  appealed 
to  his  mother,  who  spoke  to  her  husband,  arid  told  him  not 
to  be  so  cruel  to  the  boy,  but  to  give  him  some  pocket  money. 
Mr.  Hunting,  being  naturally  very  kind,  and  seeing  the  boy 
so  dejected,  gave  Charley  a  five  dollar  note ;  but  five  dollars 
was  not  much  money  for  Charley,  and  as  his  father  would 
not  give  him  any  more,  Charley  stealthily  crept  in  his  father's 
room,  when  the  governor  was  asleep,  and  took  some  money 
out  of  his  father's  purse,  either  more  or  less,  according  to 
the  amount  of  money  he  happened  to  find  in  Mr.  Hunting's 
purse.  He  practiced  this  for  a  long  time  until  ho  was  caught 
in  the  act.  There  was  a  fearful  scene,  the  father  going  to 
punish  him  severely;  but  there  was  again  the  too  indulgent 
mother,  who  not  only  pleaded  for  her  favorite  boy,  but 
threatened  her  husband  with  all  kinds  of  vengeance,  if  ho 
should  punish  her  boy,  her  dear  Charley. 

Mr.  Hunting  brought  henceforth  no  money  home,  but 
Charles  bought  what  he  wanted  on  credit  and  had  it  charged 
to  his  father,  who  was  weak  enough  to  pay  his  bills. 

The  time  came  when  Charles  was  sent  to  one  of  the  east- 
ern colleges  to  complete  his  education. 

Mrs.  Hunting  received  letters  from  her  son,  of  which  her 
husband  was  entirely  ignorant.  Charles  implored  her  to 
send  him  money.  "  All  the  students  had  money,  only  he  was 


A   TALE   OF   REAL    LIFE.  225 

as  poor  as  a  church-mouse."  The  mother  was  too  proud  that 
Charley  should  be  the  poorest  of  his  class-mates,  and  sent 
him  secretly  money.  Charles  now  was  in  his  glory.  With 
plenty  of  money,  and  none  over  him  to  restrain  and  keep 
him  on  the  right  path,  he,  with  other  young  gentlemen 
of  his  kind,  had  a  jolly  good  time,  and  as  the  place  of  learn- 
ing abounded  with  glittering  drinking  shops  and  glittering 
dames,  these  degrading  places  were  visited  oftener  than  the 
lecture-rooms.  Charles  graduated  with  some  distinction,  but 
in  the  matter  of  depravity,  rascality  and  gambling,  he  could 
have  graduated  as  an  accomplished  blackguard. 

There  was  much  rejoicing  when  Charley  returned  from 
college,  but  his  father  felt  uneasy,  for  he  saw  that  his  son  had 
the  sign  of  fast  living  already  stamped  on  his  features- 
Charles  visited  his  old  friends,  idling  away  his  time  in  de- 
baucheries and  mischievous  acts.  At  last  his  father  asked 
him,  whether  he  had  decided  what  profession  he  was  going 
to  follow. 

"  That  of  a  lawyer,"  answered  the  son. 

Mr.  Edward  Hunting  at  once  secured  his  son  the  great 
advantage  of  reading  law  with  one  of  the  best  law  firms  of 
the  city.  "  If  Charles  only  now  would  be  steady,  he  could 
become  a  first-rate  lawyer,  and  an  honor  to  himself,  his 
parents  and  the  bar." 

But  Charles  Hunting  was,  as  we  have  seen,  spoiled  from 
his  early  boyhood.  He  had  been  spoiled  by  receiving  a 
nickel  too  much  when  a  mere  boy ;  by  his  mother  interfering 
with  her  husband  when  he  wished  to  punish  him  for  some 
misdeed,  and  so  the  son  had  grown  up  to  manhood.  Every 
whim  of  his  had  been  fulfilled,  and  he  had  generally  done 
what  he  pleased.  It  pleased  him,  therefore,  to  visit  disreput- 
able places,  instead  of  remaining  in  the  offiee  and  trying  to 
master  his  profession.  It  pleased  him  to  stand  on  the  cor- 
ners and  exchange  glances  with  gamblers  and  women  of  the 
town,  who  paraded  their  sickly  bodies,  covered  with  silks, 
satins,  laces  and  feathers,  to  entice  men  in  their  abodes,  where 
they  rob  them  of  their  manhood,  where  they  ruin  their 


226  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

health  and  constitution,  and  make  of  them  soon  the  most 
accomplished  rascals. 

CharlesHunting  was  no  stranger  to  them  and  their  haunts; 
the  consequence  was  that  he  needed  a  great  deal  of  money, 
for  the  sirens  require  money  with  which  to  purchase 
fineries  to  cover  their  glaring  defects.  The  unhappy  father 
supplied  him  with  a  reasonable  amount  of  pocket  money,  in 
order  to  prevent  him  from  contracting  any  debts,  but  he  was 
disappointed;  -the  sharks  and  the  Shylocks  of  society  were 
already  after  the  young  scamp,  and  advanced  him  money  at 
a  fearful  rate  of  interest.  Charles  began  now  to  gamble  on 
a  large  scale.  He  made  no  secret  of  it  who  he  was  and  with 
whom  he  associated ;  and  to  use  his  phrase,  he  did  not 
care  a  d — n  for  any  body.  He  was  armed  with  a  revolver, 
and  was  often  engaged  in  melees,  in  one  of  which  revolvers 
were  drawn  and  one  of  the  gamblers  killed. 

In  this  much  boasted  of  and  enlightened  age,  in  this  age 
of  civilization,  it  wants  downright  murder  before  the  authori- 
ties interfere  to  protect  the  good  morals,  life  and  property  of 
the  community. 

How  can  it  be  otherwise,  when  the  very  police-force,  no, 
the  very  city  government,  is  nominated  by  the  gamblers  and 
patrons  of  the  prostitutes.  The  people  have  no  time  to  at- 
tend to  such  an  important  duty  as  the  nomination  of  public 
officers,  who  should  set  a  good  example  by  their  virtuous 
living  and  honorable  acts,  and  who  should  suppress  crime 
in  its  thousand  forms.  No,  the  people  have  not  the  time  to 
do  their  duty  to  protect  themselves  from  corruption  which  is 
spreading  around  them.  Money  making  takes  up  all  their 
attention  ;  they  must  make  money  in  order  to  supply  their 
great  wants;  the  wife  and  even  the  children  are  so  extrava- 
gant. It  takes  so  much  to  live;  they  must  make  money; 
they  can  not  take  the  time  to  attend  to  higher  duties  of  life. 
The  extravagance  of  the  day,  the  wrong  education  of  our 
children,  especially  that  of  girls,  makes  marriage  almost  im- 
possible to  young  men  of  limited  means,  and  thus  prostitu- 
tion, that  germ  of  all  crime,  increases  to  such  an  alarming  ex- 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  227 

tent,  that  fathers  and  mothers  who  have  sons  and  daughters, 
and  hope  and  pray  to  see  them  virtuousjy  settled  in  life, 
tremble  in  their  innermost  heart  for  fear  that  they  may  be 
enticed  by  the  dazzling  crime  that  surrounds  them  every- 
where. 

But  this  is  the  enlightened  era,  the  era  of  mercy,  the  era 
of  forbearance,  the  era  of  human  weakness,  the  era  when 
men  and  women,  who  move  in  first-class  society,  let  their 
houses  for  the  purpose  of  prostitution,  well  knowing  that 
prostitution  is  the  hot  bed  of  destroying  the  young  men,  and 
raising  a  brigade,  no,  a  mighty  army  of  criminals,  who  over- 
flow this  beautiful  land  with  crime  in  its  most  terrible  form. 

Not  only  do  gentlemen  and  ladies  let  their  houses  for  such 
a  detestable  traffic ;  nay,  even  clergymen  wBo  are  landlords 
are  known  to  let  their  premises  for  such  a  degrading  pur- 
pose, and  these  gentlemen  and  these  ladies  call  themselves 
religious  people,  and  have  the  hardihood  to  extend  their 
hand  in  greeting  to  honest  men  and  women,  who  are  not  so 
rich,  but  are  real  gentlemen  and  ladies. 

But  what  is  still  worse,  these  clergymen  who  let  their 
houses  for  such  a  purpose  and  go  there  occasionally  them- 
selves to  collect  the  rent,  should  possess  the  impertinence  to 
mount  the  pulpit  and  preach  before  the  congregation  a  ser- 
mon to  beware  of  sin  when  they  have  assisted  in  establish- 
ing a  hot  bed  of  sins  ! 

This  is  not  an  enlightened  age,  this  is  not  the  age  of  true 
civilization,  when  marriage  is  obstructed,  when  it  is  getting 
very  fashionable  to  have  no  children,  and  those  children  that 
are  born  and  permitted  to  live  are  surrounded  everywhere 
by  houses  of  ill-fame,  which,  in  many  places,  are  actually 
found  opposite  the  free  public  schools,  and  the  statistics  will 
show  that  girls  of  twelve  years  are  admitted  by  the  proprie- 
tors of  those  abodes,  and  yet  our  modern  civilization  permits 
all  this. 

This  is  the  era  of  human  weakness,  when  men  have  not 
the  moral  courage  to  speak  their  minds  freely,  and  tell  the 
public  of  their  shortcomings. 


228  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

This  is  the  age  in  which  we  have  forgotten  the  cardinal 
principle,  that  an  ounce  of  prevention  is  better  than  a  pound  of 
cure;  and  we  suffer,  therefore,  its  dire  consequences. 

The  pistol  shot  fired  in  the  gambling  hall,  and  the  fact 
that  a  man  had  been  killed,  induced  the  police  to  arrest  tho 
participants  of  the  affray,  who  were  marched  off  to  the  sta- 
tion-house. All  said  that  Charles  Hunting  was  the  one  who 
fired  the  fatal  shot.  Charley  now  became  alarmed,  and  in- 
formed his  parents  of  his  dangerous  situation.  The  whole 
family  was  aroused,  and  went  to  the  rescue  of  the  son.  It 
was  bad  enough  to  have  him  known  as  a  fast  boy — he 
passed  under  that  name — they  said  that  he  was  only  casting 
his  wild  oats.  But  to  have  him  tried  and  convicted  as  a 
murderer  and  hung  was  terrible,  and  so  Mr.  Edward  Hunt- 
ing, his  father  Zadock  Hunting,  and  all  their  influential 
friends  called  on  the  authorities  privately,  and  begged  to 
have  the  young  man  released,  but  one  of  them  was  firm  and 
would  not  give  his  consent  until  old  Mr.  Zadock  Hunting 
pleaded,  saying,  "  Behold  in  me  a  man  of  three-score,  with 
one  foot  in  the  grave.  Lot  me  die  without  that  pang  of 
shame.  My  grandson  shall  leave  this  neighborhood.  Ee- 
member  that  we  were  school-mates,  and  that  we  are  both 
grandfathers."  The  man  in  authority  was  moved,  and  jus- 
tice cheated  of  her  rights.  Charles  Hunting  was  released 
on  the  condition  to  leave  town  and  become  a  better  man. 

The  lawyers  were  then  called  to  aid,  and,  for  the  consid- 
eration of  five  thousand  dollars,  the  relatives  of  the  mur- 
dered man  did  not  prosecute,  and  thus  the  matter  was,  so  to 
say,  hushed  up,  and  Charles  Hunting  sent  to  the  State  of 
Maine,  to  skate  on  the  Lakes. 

Arriving  in  the  city  of  Bangor,  he  put  up  in  a  first-class 
hotel.  For  a  few  days  he  abstained  from  drinking,  card- 
playing,  or  visiting  places  where  the  sirens  abode.  Hav- 
ing no  mother  or  father  at  hand  to  fill  his  purse,  he  found 
himself  soon  without  money,  and  wrote  home  for  a  remit- 
tance, but  money  was  getting  scarce  with  Mr.  Edward  Hunt- 
ing as  we  have  seen  in  the  opening  part  of  this  "Tale  of  Eeal 


A   TALE    OP    REAL    LIFE.  ZZy 

Life"  and  Charles  Hunting,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  felt 
what  it  was  to  be  without  money.  He  was  despondent,  and 
his  conscience  commenced  to  trouble  him.  He  felt  a  little 
remorse  at  his  career.  "  Let  me  end  my  life ;  I  am  not 
worth  living,"  ran  through  his  thoughts.  He  opened  his 
traveling-bag,  took  from  it  a  loaded  pistol,  went  before  the 
mirror,  placed  the  weapon  to  his  right  temple,  and  was 
about  to  fire,  when  the  beautiful  and  lovely  face  of  Eosalind 
La  Monte  appeared  before  his  vision,  appealing  to  him  not 
to  commit  such  a  crime. 

"Rosalind!  Eosalind!"  he  exclaimed,  laying  aside  the 
loaded  pistol,  "for  thy  sake  I  will  not  do  this  act;  it  would 
grieve  you  that  I,  thy  beloved  Charles  Hunting,  should 
have  died  by  his  own  hand,  a  suicide.  Eosalind,  thou  good 
and  noble  girl,  for  the  first  time  I  feel  that  I  really  love  you. 
I  can  not  be  entirely  lost  to  noble  feelings;  there  must  be 
something  good  yet  in  me,  to  be  loved  by  such  a  noble  girl. 

"  Eosalind,  for  thy  sake  I  will  live  and  try  to  reform;  but 
can  I  reform?  Away  with  me  to  the  wilderness,  and  there 
lead  the  life  of  a  hermit,  repent  of  my  sins  and  become  a 
better  man !" 

He  took  pen,  ink,  and  paper  and  wrote : 

"Mr  DEAR  BELOVED  EOSALIND: 

"  I  am  awful  despondent  since  I  loft  my  place  of  nativity, 
and,  for  the  first  time  in  my  life,  realize  the  life  I  have  been 
leading.  For  the  first  time  since  many  years  do  I  feel  my 
cheek  blush  with  shame ;  for  the  first  time  in  my  wasting 
existence  do  I  fully  comprehend  your  noble  devotion  to  me. 
You  love  me  with  the  same  purity,  with  the  same  holy  love 
we  have  pledged  each  other  when  walking  so  confidently 
together  to  the  high-school,  when  we  were  both  so  very 
happy  and  looked  forward  to  a  happy  future  which  seemed 
to  await  us. 

"Alas !  the  force  of  circumstances  has  misled  me.  I 
could  not  withstand  the  power  of  the  tempter.  I  have 
fallen,  fallen  to  the  lowest  ebb  of  society.  I  am  looked  upon 


SdU  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

as  the  degraded  son,  and,  what  is  more,  I  am  a  degraded  son, 
an  outcast,  a  scamp,  but,  notwithstanding  all  this,  you  still 
love  me  as  though  I  were  the  Charles  Hunting  of  old,  with 
health  and  character  unimpaired. 

"Noble  Eosalind !  how  can  I  ever  repay  your  devoted 
love?  I  hear  a  whisper  within  me — it  is  conscience,  which 
exclaims:  ' By  reforming,  by  becoming  a  good  moral  man,  an 
honest  man,  a  useful  man,  a  man  who  fears  God  and  loves  his 
neighbors,  who  does  as  he  wants  to  be  done  by,  then  you  will 
be  worthy  of  her  devoted  love.' 

"  O  God  !  why  have  I  not  listened  to  the  same  conscience 
before?  why  have  I  been  so  wild?  why  have  I  allowed  the 
thistles  to  grow  within  me  so  high  and  so  fast  that  they 
have  overspread  the  flower  of  conscience,  so  that  it  could 
not  grow  and  enable  me  to  love  justice  and  to  act  rightly. 

"  I  thank  thee,  my  Heavenly  Father.  Thanks,  a  thousand 
thanks  to  thee,  my  dear  beloved  Eosalind,  for  thy  love,  for 
thy  devotion,  for  the  confidence  you  have  reposed  in  me, 
always  urging  and  always  hoping  that  I  would  reform.  Yes, 
dearest  being  of  my  life,  I  must  reform.  I  owe  it  to  myself, 
I  owe  it  to  my  dear  parents  and  friends,  but,  above  all,  I  owe 
it  to  you,  my  darling  Rosalind,  to  you,  my  "Beacon  Light," 
you,  who  have  warned  me  of  danger,  you,  my  beloved, 
whose  loving  devotion  will  rescue  me  from  final  destruction. 
Through  you  I  hope  to  become  reformed.  I  implore  you  to 
pray  for  me,  that  God,  in  his  great  mercy,  be  with  me  in  my 
efforts  to  become  a  good  man. 

"  Eosalind,  pray  for  me,  and  may  thine  and  my  prayers 
and  supplications  be  graciously  received  before  the  throne 
of  Grace.  Amen. 

"Good-bye,  my  darling  Eosalind.  If  I  possessed  the 
whole  world  I  would  gladly  give  it  in  exchange  for  a  loving 
kiss  from  your  forgiving  lips. 

V  Your  unhappy  but  hopeful,  loving 

"  CHARLES  HUNTING." 


A    TALE    OF    REAL    LIFE.  231 

He  quickly  placed  the  letter  in  an  envelope,  directed 
the  same,  and  was  about  to  lock  his  traveling  bag,  when  he 
heard  a  great  noise  and  confusion  in  the  hotel.  "  What  is 
the  matter?  is  the  house  on  fire?"  He  opened  the  door, 
caught  one  of  the  rushing  waiters,  and  asked  :  "  Tell  me 
what  is  the  matter." 

"Matter  enough,"  answered  the  waiter,  "Two  Counts, two 
live  Counts  have  just  arrived  from  Paris,  France." 

Charles  Hunting  looked  at  the  waiter  in  amazement,  but  he 
soon  recovered  from  his  astonishment,  recollecting  that  he 
was  in  Bangor,  Maine,  where  the  arrival  of  Counts  was  an 
unusual  event. 

"  You  seem  to  doubt  what  I  have  said,"  exclaimed  the 
waiter,  "just  step  in  the  office  and  look  at  the  hotel  register, 
and  you  will  observe  the  names  of  Count  Louis  La  Mon — , 
or  some  such  name." 

"  Is  it  La  Monte  ?  "  asked  Charles  Hunting. 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  that  is  the  name.  Why,  do  you  know  them  ?  " 
asked  the  waiter,  in  a  more  respectful  manner. 

"  I  know  their  connection,"  remarked  Charles  Hunting. 
He  went  to  the  office,  and  saw  on  the  hotel  register  the  names 
of  Count  Louis  La  Monte,  of  Paris,  France,  and  Count  Mu- 
rat  La  Monte,  of  Paris,  France. 

"  Sure  enough,"  said  he  to  himself,  "  here  are  the  cousins 
of  Miss  Rosalind  La  Monte;  I  will  postpone  my  trip  to  the 
wilderness  to  become  a  hermit,  and  make  the  acquaintance 
of  these  Counts,  first."  Turning  to  the  hotel  clerk,  who 
stood  on  his  great  dignity,  as  all  hotel  clerks,  with  a  very 
few  exceptions,  do  in  this  country,  he  asked  him  :  "  Where 
are  these  Counts  that  have  just  arrived  ?  " 

"  Why  do  you  ask,  sir  ?  " 

"  Because  I  know  their  relations ;  and  because  I  speak 
French  fluently,  and  can  be  of  some  service  to  them." 

"So  you  know  the  family,  and  speak  French,"  exclaimed 
the  hotel  clerk,  coming  down  somewhat  from  his  high  dig- 
nity. "  I  will  go  with  you  to  their  rooms  and  introduce  you, 
and  you  may,  at  the  same  time,  ask  them  what  we  can  do 


232  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

for  their  comfort.  Confound  it,  it  was  my  intention  to  learn 
French,  but  I  always  postponed  it,"  remarked  the  dignified 
cleric,  conducting  Charles  Hunting  to  Count  Louis  La  Monte 
and  Count  Murat  La  Monte,  whom  Mrs.  John  James  La 
Monte  so  anxiously  expected. 

Young  Hunting  introduced  himself  to  the  noble  strangers — 
noble  by  name.  They  were  delighted  to  find  one  who  could 
converse  so  fluently  in  their  own  tongue  and  knew  their 
relatives.  They  spoke  of  their  arrival  in  Boston,  and  that 
having  heard  the  French  war  vessel,  LaFayette,  was  in  Port- 
land, they  visited  that  city  and  called  on  the  commander, 
who  was  an  old  school-mate,  drank  one  bottle  of  champagne 
more  than  they  ought  to,  and  when  arriving  at  the  depot, 
stepped  on  the  train  going  East,  instead  of  West,  soon  fell 
asleep,  and  that  they  now  found  themselves  in  Bangor,  in- 
stead of  Boston  ;  that  they  were  expected  by  their  relatives 
in  a  few  days,  and  would  now  be  prevented  by  their  unfore- 
seen mishap. 

"  Well,"  exclaimed  Charles  Hunting,  "  the  mishap  is  not 
so  very  great." 

"  Yes,  it  is,"  interrupted  the  Counts,  "Madam  La  Monte 
will  be  greatly  disappointed,  and  also  the  young  ladies,  Mad- 
emoiselles Eosalind  and  Viola,  who  expected  us  to  spend 
New-Year's  with  them." 

Charles  Hunting  experienced  a  strange  sensation.  It  was 
the  pang  of  jealousy,  and  that  green-eyed  monster  made  him 
hate  these  French  Counts,  with  all  the  intensity  of  his  un- 
bridled nature. 

"  Why  should  Mademoiselles  Rosalind  and  Yiola  feel  dis- 
appointed ;  did  they,  too,  extend  the  invitation?"  asked 
Charles,  carelessly. 

"Of  course  they  did,"  exclaimed  Count  Louis,  "  can  you 
describe  to  us  how  the  mademoiselles  look  ?  " 

Charles  Hunting  looked  up,  and  eyed  carefully  the  two 
strangers  before  him,  and  concluding  as  Greek  to  meet 
Greek,  he  commenced  to  describe,  very  minutely,  both  Eosa- 
lind and  Viola. 


A   TALE    OP   REAL    LIFE.  233 

The  Frenchmen  listened  attentively.  Count  Murat  took 
from  his  breast-pocket  a  small  album,  and  showed  Mr. 
Charles  Hunting  the  photographs  of  the  young  ladies,  say- 
ing: "You  have  described  them  well,  they  must  be  charm- 
ing mademoiselles." 

"  By  Jove  !"  exclaimed  Charles,  to  himself,  "  those  Counts 
are  already  in  love  with  the  young  ladies;  I  guess  I  have  to 
give  up  my  going  to  the  wilderness  and  becoming  a  hermit. 
It  won't  do  to  leave  the  field  entirely  to  these  noble  French- 
men, with  their  polished  manners,  and  their  titles,  which 
sound  so  grandly  to  most  of  our  American  young  ladies.  I 
must  be  near  at  hand,  else  my  beloved  Eosalind  may  bo  in- 
duced to  give  her  hand  to  one  of  those  Counts."  He  doubled 
his  fist,  and  bit  his  lips  at  the  probable  consequences,  but 
quickly  mastered  his  feelings,  and  smilingly  said:  "Charm- 
ing is  not  the  word,  they  are  beautiful,  they  are  bewitching; 
you  are  fortunate  of  having  been  invited  to  their  palatial 
residence,  where  beauty,  wit,  poetry  and  music  dwell,"  and 
the  young  man  eagerly  watched  the  features  of  the  French- 
men, to  see  what  impression  his  words  would  make  on  them. 
He  felt  another  pang  of  jealousy,  for  he  readily  could  inter- 
pret their  thoughts,  "  that  will  be  a  rarity  for  us  epicures." 

The  Counts  felt  very  sorry  of  having  made  the  great  mis- 
take of  going  East  instead  of  going  West,  and  spoke  of 
taking  a  special  train,  in  order  to  arrive  on  time,  at  their 
cousin's,  John  James  La  Monte  and  family. 

Charles  Hunting  listened  with  his  ears  wide  open,  saying  : 
"  These  chaps  must  have  plenty  of  money.  I  must  relieve 
them  of  some  of  it,  and  I  must  keep  them  away  as  long  as 
possible  from  theLaMontes."  Acting  upon  this  conclusion, 
he  said  :  "  You  had  better  stay  over  night,  you  seem  to  be 
fatigued,  and  a  good  night's  rest  is  absolutely  necessary  to 
recover  your  vigor  and  freshness." 

He  rang  the  bell,  ordering  a  bottle  "the  Golden  Wedding," 
and  treated  his  acquaintance  in  a  jolly  manner,  who,  in  return, 
did  not  stand  back  in  drinking  or  jesting.  "  By  Jove,"  said 
he,  to  himself;  "  I  always  thought  that  I  could  drink  wine  in 


234  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

•wholesale,  but  these  chaps  beat  me."  He  rang  again  the  bell, 
the  waiter  appeared,  and  bowed.  "  Bring  two]  more  bottles 
of  the  Golden  Wedding,'  and  charge,  henceforth,  all  I  order, 
to  the  noble  Counts." 

At  these  words  the  waiter  made  a  still  more  respectful  bow, 
and  soon  appeared  with  two  more  bottles. 

"Tell  the  proprietor,  that  the  noble  Counts  wish  four  rooms, 
one  leading  into  another,  and  you  will  bring  my  baggage*  into 
the  last  room,  as  they  wish  to  have  me  near  them,  to  inter- 
pret what  they  say." 

"Yes,  sir,"  was  the  waiter's  very  courteous  reply. 

After  the  noble  Counts  and  the  noble  Charles  Hunting  had 
finished  another  bottle  of  "  Golden  "Wedding,"  they  began  to 
feel  jolly. 

Charles  Huntirig,  Esquire,  rang  the  bell  again,  and  his  sum- 
mon was  quickly  answered  by  the  same  polite  waiter. 

"  Man  of  the  white  apron,  listen  carefully  to  what  I  order — 

A  SUPPER  FOR  THREE. 

Oyster  stews,  raw  oysters,  fried  oysters,  and  young  chicken 
broiled — not  burned — one  breast  of  veal,  one  roast  of  beef — 
say  three  pounds,  well  done,  and  juicy  green  peas,  salad  — 
potatoes,  fried,  boiled  and  mashed;  some  pan-cakes,  dried 
toast,  muffins,  biscuits,  bread,  butter,  fruit,  tea  and  coffee,  and 
two  more  bottles  of  '  the  Golden  Wedding,'  all  to  be  charged 
to  the  noble  Counts — be  quick.'"  Turning  to  the  strangers,  he 
said,  in  his  most  affable  manner,  "I  have  ordered  four  rooms, 
leading  one  into  another,  one  of  which  I  will  occupy,  to  suit 
your  convenience  and  interpret  whatever  you  may  desire.  I 
have  also  ordered  supper  to  be  served  in  one  of  the  rooms 
and  now  let  us  dress  for  the  evening  meal."  Without  waiting 
for  a  response,  he  withdrew,  with  a  courteous  bow. 

"That  young  man  is  evidently  of  good  family,  else  he 
would  not  have  the  accomplishment  to  command  as  he  did," 
remarked  Count  Louis. 

"You  are  right,  he  knows  how  to  command;  the  question 
is,  whether  he  obeys  those  who  have  a  right  to  command  him; 


A    TALE    OF    REAL    LIFE.  235 

if  T  could  know  that,  I  could  form  a  correct  opinion  with 
whom  we  have  to  deal,"  observed  Count  Murat. 

"We  will  find  it  out  very  easily,  after  we  have  spent  an 
evening  with  him.  Now,  let  us  change  our  traveling  dress," 
said  the  brother,  opening  a  trunk,  and  selecting  some  clothes 
for  both. 

They  had  hardly  finished  their  toilet,  when  the  drawing 
doors  were  thrown  back,  and  an  inviting  table  stood  before 
them,  teeming  with  all  the  niceties  the  establishment  could 
afford. 

Mr.  Charles  Hunting  also  presently  made  his  appearance, 
dressed  in  evening  costume,  becoming  well  his  tall,  command- 
ing, and  manly  form.  Since  his  interest  demanded  it,  he  acted 
very  pleasantly,  and  looked  like  an  accomplished  gentleman. 

"I  hope  the  supper  I  have  ordered  will  please  my  distin- 
guished friends,"  said  Mr.  Charles  Hunting;  "please  be 
seated.  I  see,"  exclaimed  he,  snapping  his  fingers,  "I  have 
made  a  great  mistake  by  ordering  oyster  soup,  which  is  an 
English  dish.  Great  Britain  is  very  proud  of  her  oysters, 
but  it  seems  that  only  the  Anglo-Saxon  race  appreciate  them." 

"You  have  made  no  mistake  in  ordering  oj-sters,  we  like 
oysters,  served  in  any  manner,"  said  Count  Louis,  smilingly. 

"I  am  glad,  very  glad  indeed,  to  learn  that  you  like  oys- 
ters; they  are  very  nourishing.  With  an  Englishman  they 
are  a  common  food ;  but  foreigners  who  eat  oysters  are  men 
of  the  world,  who  have  the  moral  courage  to  taste  other  food 
beside  what  their  own  country  produces.  The  common  flock 
of  men  would  not  eat  anything  they  have  not  seen  at  their 
parental  table;  you  have  emancipated  yourselves  from  such 
narrow  views,  and  I  congratulate  you  most  heartily;  but  now 
let  us  drink  to  your  health  and  future  happiness." 

The  tumblers  were  quickly  filled  and  emptied,  and  the  con- 
versation became  general. 

"You  will  observe,"  said  Charles  Hunting,  assuming  the 
air  of  an  instructor,  "that  in  this  country,  public  roads  and 
highways  are  not  so  well  constructed,  and  streets  not  so  well 
paved,  our  houses  not  so  strongly  built,  as  they  are  in  France. 


236  CUE  PROSPECTS. 

Our  waiters  and  public  servants  lack  that  polished  polite- 
ness for  which  France  is  world-renowned  ;  but  to  compensate 
us  for  all  that,  you  will  find,  that  this  is  the  land  of  beautiful 
women  ;  every  one  of  them  is  a  perfect  model  of  beauty  and 
natural  grace;  every  one  of  them  is  fit  to  mount  the  throne 
and  become  an  accomplished  empress.  I  now  propose,  that 
we  drink  to  the  health  and  future  prosperity  of  the  American 
ladies." 

The  tumblers  were  again  filled,  and  the  young  men  drank 
the  toast,  standing. 

"Now,  let  us  fill  again  our  glasses,  and  drink  to  the  health 
and  uninterrupted  happiness  of  the  ladies  of  France." 

The  Counts  readily  assented  to  this,  and  drank  another 
glass  of  "  Golden  Wedding,"  which  soon  began  to  have  an  ef- 
fect on  them.  They  felt  extremely  jolly,  and  the  hours  passed 
pleasantly  in  eating,  drinking,  and  smoking.  At  last  Charles 
Hunting  proposed  to  play  a  game  of  chess. 

"No,"  answered  the  Counts;  "we  do  not  find  any  pleasure 
in  the  play  of  chess ;  but  let  us  play  a  game  of  cards." 

"Anything  you  please;  I  have  dedicated  my  time  to  you, 
while  I  remain  in  this  city,  although  I  prefer  playing  chess. 
There  is  more  science  in  chess  than  in  any  other  game,1"  re- 
marked young  Hunting,  condescendingly. 

"  Card  playing  is  more  amusing,"  contended  the  noble 
Counts,  and  commenced  playing  at  five  dollars  a  game,  with 
privilege  to  increase  the  stakes.  Mr.  Charles  Hunting  had 
not  his  purse  with  him,  "however,  they  can  make  a  memo- 
randum as  they  proceed,  and  settle  when  done  playing." 

It  did  not  take  our  fast  young  America,  to  observe,  that  he 
had  two  as  accomplished  gamblers  before  him  as  ever  emi- 
grated from  Paris,  La  Belle  France;  but  accomplished  as 
they  were  he  was  more  than  their  equal.  When  the  morning 
hours  dawned,  the  noble  Counts  Louis  and  Murat  La  Monte, 
paid  Mr.  Charles  Hunting  thirty  thousand  francs,  in  the 
shape  of  drafts^  on  Boston  and  New  York  banks,  which 
Charley  sold  soon,  with  a  good  discount,  to  a  broker,  who 
previously  telegraphed  to  ascertain  whether  they  were  all 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  237 

right.  Receiving  a  satisfactory  answer^Charles  Hunting  re- 
ceived the  net  amount  agreed  on;  and  with  so  much  money 
in  his  possession,  he  forgot  his  resolve  to  reform  and  become 
worthy  of  the  devoted  love  of  Miss  Eosalind  La  Monte. 

"  No,"  said  he  to  himself,  when  his  conscience  appealed  to 
his  better  self;  "  no,  I  will  not  leave  these  Counts,  as  long 
as  they  have  a  franc  in  their  possession.  Let  them  be  stripped 
of  their  money,  and  their  power  of  mischief  with  the  La 
Montes  is  forever  gone ;  I  know  by  experience  how  a  gam- 
bler feels  if  he  has  plenty  of  cash.  He  feels  as  proud  and 
self-relying  as  a  successful  military  chief.  His  impudence 
opens  the  door  for  him  in  the  best  society,  and  he  mingles 
there  with  the  appearance  of  a  real  gentleman,  misleading 
the  unexperienced  and  good-natured;  but  let  a  gambler  lose 
his  money  and  have  no  credit,  he  is  crestfallen  and  perfectly 
helpless,  he  sees  relief  only  in  suicide.  As  soon  as  I  will 
have  cleared  out  these  Counts,  I  will  leave  them,  banish  my- 
self in  the  wilderness  and  remain  there,  until  I  am  certain 
that  I  am  free  from  my  vices  and  feel  the  moral  courage  to 
live  an  honest  and  useful  life.  Then  I'll  return  to  my  native 
home,  throw  myself  before  the  lovely  Eosalind,  implore  her 
forgiveness,  make  her  my  wife,  and  lead  a  virtuous  and  use- 
ful life." 

The  Counts  felt  very  unpleasant  over  the  loss  of  thirty 
thousand  francs  in  one  night.  They  felt  humiliated  beside 
that  they  were  two  against  one,  and,  nevertheless,  lost  so 
heavily  ;  "  but  they  must  win  that  money  back  at  all  events." 
They  did  not  show  to  their  new  found  friend  their  feelings, 
much  less  their  thoughts.  After  a  late  breakfast,  they  took 
a  sleigh  ride  in  the  truly  picturesque  country  which  sur- 
rounds that  inland  city.  They  were  delighted  with  their 
ride,  and  ate  their  dinner  with  a  good  appetite.  At  about 
five,  they  again  engaged  a  sleigh  to  drive  about  town  and  seo 
the  sights  worth  seeing  for  such  a  trio. 

Charley  was  now  in  his  glory.  He  had  plenty  of  money 
and  could  treat,  and  treat  he  did  princely.  The  Counts  and 
those  whom  they  visited  praised  and  made  a  hero  of  him. 


238  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

At  about  nine  they  returned  to  their  hotel,  ordered  a  good 
supper,  drank  some  champagne,  and  agreed  to  play  also  a 
few  games  at  cards. 

Charley  observed  that  the  Counts  were  up  at  all  kinds  of 
tricks  and  he  watched  them  carefully,  in  order  to  avoid  un- 
fair playing,  while  he  skillfully  practiced  a  trick  or  two  worth 
a  dozen  of  theirs. 

The  tide  of  the  play  turned  against  the  Counts  and  they 
began  to  lose  large  sums  ;  they  were  angry  and  in  unguarded 
moments  terrible  oaths  escaped  their  lips,  which  Charley 
duly  noticed. 

He  came  to  the  conclusion  that  these  young  men  were  dan- 
gerous to  deal  with,  and  capable  of  most  any  act  to  carry  out 
their  plans.  . 

On  they  played,  until  the  gray  of  morning,  and  the  Counts 
had  to  pay  to  Charley  nearly  twenty  thousand  francs.  They 
paid  their  debt,  but  not  with  the  same  dignity  and  calmness 
they  did  the  night  before. 

A  heavy  snowstorm  set  in,  blockading  the  roads,  and  pre- 
venting all  communication — a  good  excuse  to  the  Counts 
Louis  and  Murat  to  postpone  their  visit  to  their  relatives. 
Besides,  they  wished  first  to  regain  their  fifty  thousand 
francs,  and,  if  possible,  to  win  more. 

"Weeks  passed  in  playing  and  dissipation.  The  Counts 
lost  all  their  money,  nearly  one  hundred  thousand  francs. 
Charles  Hunting  had  won  it,  but  of  all  this  money,  only  one 
five  thousand  franc  draft  was  left.  The  rest  had  been  spent 
in  company  with  the  Counts  and  other  boon  companions. 
The  first  were  so  anxious  to  regain  this  draft  that  they  even 
planned  to  rob  him  of  it,  in  his  sleep. 

Charley  noticed  that  something  serious  passed  through 
their  minds,  and  questioned  them  about  it.  The  Counts  ad- 
mitted that  their  means  were  exhausted,  and  asked  him  for  a 
loan  of  five  thousand  francs,  promising  to  repay  the  amount] 
as  soon  as  they  would  reach  their  cousin  John  James  La 
Monte. 

Charley  stated  that  they  had  been   living  very  cxtrava- 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  239 

gantly,  and  that  five  thousand  francs  were  all  the  money  at 
his  command.  "  But,"  said  he,  "  I  expect  a  remittance  from 
home  to-day,  and  will  go  to  the  post-office  directly  to  see  if 
the  letter  has  arrived.  If  I  receive  the  expected  money,  I 
will  gladly  accommodate  you  with  a  loan  ;  otherwise,  I  am 
very  sorry — ,"  leaving  the  Counts  to  themselves,  to  digest  at 
leisure  on  what  he  had  done  and  said. 

The  Counts  were  furious  with  rage  and  indignation.  Louis 
exclaimed : 

"  He  is  the  most  accomplished  confidence  man  I  ever  have 
met  in  my  life.  How  cunningly  did  he  ingratiate  himself 
into  our  favor,  and  with  what  a  matter-of-fact  air  did  he 
order  everything,  and  pay  for  it  with  our  money!  Eeally, 
it  was  worth  while  coming  to  America,  to  make  the  acquain- 
tance of  this  young  and  handsome  rascal,  with  his  aristo- 
cratic air  and  impudence  1" 

Murat  coincided  with  his  brother,  and  said: 

"  All  very  well,  but  we  must  expect  that  he  will  inform  us 
that  his  expected  remittance  did  not  arrive.  What  are  we 
to  do  in  order  to  get  ready  funds  ?  That  is  the  question 
now." 

"  The  great  question  !"  remarked  Louis,  folding  his  arms 
in  Napoleon  Bonaparte's  style,  and  standing  lost  in  thought. 

"  I  have  it !"  he  exclaimed.  "  We  will  telegraph  to  our 
cousin  John  James  La  Monte  for  a  draft  of  one  thousand  dol- 
lars." 

"I  am  not  in  favor  of  telegraphing,"  replied  Murat. 

"Why?" 

"  Because  it  will  produce  a  bad  impression.  Our  cousin  is 
a  banker,  and  if  you  ask  a  banker  for  money,  you'll  touch 
his  soul,"  answered  Murat,  promptly. 

"  But  we  will  then  have  an  opportunity  of  seeing  whether 
he  is  a  large-hearted  man,  or  one  of  those  who  have  money, 
but  no  soul  to  feel  for  a  fellow.  Yes,  I  will  telegraph  for  five 
hundred  dollars,  and  if  it  is  not  sent,  we  must  try  to  get  pas- 
sage on  the  man-of-war  Lafayette,  and  cruise  with  the  cap- 
tain until  he  returns  to  our  native  home." 


240  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

0 

Murat  made  no  further  objections,  and  the  telegram  was 
sent. 

Charles  Hunting,  when  leaving  the  post-office,  was  told  by 
the  clerk  that  there  were  several  letters  for  him,  some  of 
which  had  been  waiting  for  him  these  last  six  weeks. 

<;Did  you  not  see  them  advertised  ?"  he  asked. 

"  No,  I  did  not,"  answered  Charley,  taking  the  letters.  He 
recognized  his  mother's  handwriting,  and  quickly  opening  the 
one  which  bore  the  latest  post-mark,  he  read : 

"  MY  DEAR  SON  CHARLEY  : 

"  Your  prolonged  silence  makes  me  and  the  whole  family 
very  uneasy.  I  hope  and  trust  that  no  serious  misfortune 
has  befallen  you,  and  that  the  reason  of  your  silence  is  only 
because  we  have  not  complied  with  your  request  to  send  you 
money.  But  I  have  explained  to  you  the  reasons  fully,  and 
you  ought  to  have  acknowledged  my  letters,  even  if  they  did 
disappoint  your  expectations. 

"  My  son,  your  conduct  gives  me  pain,  and  bows  me  down 
in  deep  sorrow.  To  have  a  son  who  has  been  so  kindly 
and  indulgently  treated,  and  now,  when  his  mother  informs 
him  of  the  severe  illness  of  his  father,  not  to  write  a  letter 
of  sympathy,  not  to  inquire  after  the  health  of  that  father, 
is,  indeed,  a  carelessness,  a  heartlessuess,  which  is  almost  un- 
pardonable. When  I  see  how  anxious  the  inhabitants  of  our 
city  are  to  learn  the  state  of  health  of  your  noble  father, 
how  the  reporters  of  the  press  daily  inquire  and  publish  the 
doctor's  report,  when  I  see  that  they  evade,  as  much  as  pos- 
sible, passing  our  house  with  wagons,  so  as  to  make  no  noise, 
my  heart  weeps  in  sorrow  that  my  son  should  look  upon  the 
sickness  of  his  father  so  lightly.  Charles,  you  are  sinning 
against  your  parents,  you  are  sinning  against  yourself.  You 
have  a  father  of  whom  you  have  every  reason  to  be  proud. 
His  name  is  held  in  high  estimation  by  the  whole  commu- 
nity. Every  one  feels  sorry  that  he  is  sick,  and  every  one 
prays  and  wishes  that  he  may  soon  recover,  and  his  life  be 
spared  for  many  years. 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  241 

"  The  rich  old  Mr.  Bottwell  is  also  sick,  but  none  cares  for 
him.  Why?  Because  he  has  led  a  selfish  life.  He  never 
did  care  for  the  welfare  of  his  fellow-men.  With  all  his 
talent,  and  with  all  his  money,  he  never  did  a  particle  of 
good  to  the  community,  while  your  noble-hearted  father  was 
the  foremost  in  every  public  enterprise  and  good  deed. 

"And  have  you  really  the  heart  to  tarnish  such  a  noble 
name?  If  there  is  a  spark  of  manly  honor  left  within  you, 
let  it  kindle  into  a  bright  flame  which  will  show  you  the 
right  path.  Reform !  my  dear  son.  I  implore  you,  1  beg  of 
you,  to  become  an  honorable  man,  and  no  man  can  be  truly 
honorable  unless  he  has  some  useful  occupation.  Idleness 
leads  him  into  misdeeds,  and  gradually  makes  of  him  an 
outcast,  a  by-word  to  society.  I  appeal  to  your  better  na- 
ture to  renounce  at  once,  but  with  a  firm  resolve,  the  life 
you  lead  at  present.  Shun  your  companions  as  you  would 
shun  hissing  serpents,  the  poison  of  which  is  death. 

"If  you  value  your  future  happiness,  if  you  value  the  good 
name  you  inherit,  if  you  have  any  regard  for  your  mother's 
happiness  and  her  life,  then  heed  my  advice  at  once.  Don't 
postpone  it.  Delay,  in  such  vital  matters,  is  dangerous. 

"  We  have  not  as  yet  received  any  news  whether  your 
brother  Augustus  has  been  saved  from  his  wrecked  boat  or 
whether  he  lost  his  life.  O,  my  .trials  are  great!  my  soul 
mourns,  for  I  feel  that  I  have  been  a  vain  sinner,  who  has 
neglected  to  do  the  duties  which  God  has  intrusted  to  me. 
May  God,  in  his  great  mercy,  forgive  my  sins,  and  if  I 
should  see  you,  my  son,  reformed,  a  better  man,  I  will  look 
upon  it  as  a  sign  that  the  Great  Father  in  Heaven  has  heard 
my  prayers  and  seen  the  sinner's  tear. 

"Eeform,  my  son,  and  you  will  make  your  poor  suffering 
mother  happy  as  she  has  never  been  before. 

"While  penning  these  lines  Miss  Kosalind  La  Monte 
called  to  inquire  after  your  father's  health ;  also  whether  we 
had  received  any  letters  from  you.  My  son,  I  felt  greatly 
mortified  to  say  that  we  had  not  received  a  letter  from 
you.  She  seemed  much  concerned  about  your  prolonged 


242  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

silence,  and  expressed  the  sincere  hope  that  no  evil  had  be- 
fallen you.  She  requested  me  to  remember  her  to  you  in 
kindness. 

"  Charley,  if  you  would  reform  and  become  worthy  of 
being  the  son  of  Edward  Hunting,  then  the  prospects  will 
brighten.  Miss  Kosalind  La  Monte  would  become  your  wife, 
and  your  happiness  forever  secured. 

"  I  must  close  this  letter,  for  I  hear  the  steps  of  the  good 
and  kind-hearted  Dr.  Dettmann,  and  wish  to  be  present  at 
his  visit  to  your  noble,  ailing  father.  May  our  merciful 
G-od  speedily  restore  him  to  health!  Amen!  O,  may  the 
contents  of  this  letter  re-echo  within  you  until  you  comply 
with  my  motherly  request !  In  your  hands  lays  my  future 
happiness  and  the  number  of  days  of  my  life.  Will  you  act 
the  dutiful  son? 

"Your  affectionate  mother, 

"KATE  HUNTING. 

"  P.  S.  I  am  happy  to  state  that  the  able  Dr.  Dettmann 
has  given  permission  to  your  kind  father  to  write  you  a  let- 
ter. You  can,  therefore,  expect  one  by  the  next  mail." 

Charles  Hunting  had  finished  his  letter.  Tears  were 
gliding  down  his  cheeks — tears  of  repentance  and  contri- 
tion ;  his  heart  was  bleeding.  "Sinner's  tears,  flow  on  and 
purify  me,  wretch  that  I  am  !  Eosalind,  in  this  carnival  of 
dissipation  I  have  again  forgotten  you,  forgotten  my  promise 
to  reform,  forgotten  even  to  mail  you  the  letter  I  wrote." 
He  took  the  same  from  his  breast-coat  pocket,  opened  it 
and  added : 

"  P.  S.  Just  when  finishing  the  above  letter  the  Counts 
Louis  and  Murat  La  Monte  arrived  at  the  same  hotel  where 
I  am  stopping.  Have  been  living  pretty  fast  ever  since  they 
are  here.  I  am  a  saint  compared  to  them,  but  I  will  reform. 
My  noble  father  shall  be  my  pattern,  and  you,  my  dear 
Eosalind,  my  hope  of  future  happiness.  Let  the  seraphim 
appeal  before  the  throne  of  Grace  that  my  wish  and  hope  be 
fulfilled.  Adieu,  dearest  object  of  my  life." 


A   TALE  OP   REAL   LIFE.  243 

He  directed  the  letter,  and,  when  handing  it  to  the  clerk, 
he  was  told  that  the  mail  just  arrived  had  brought  for  him 
another  letter.  He  recognized  his  father's  handwriting. 
"  No,  I  will  not  read  this  letter  here,  but  wait  till  I  reach 
my  room."  He  hastened  to  his  hotel,  and  even  did  not  no- 
tice the  Counts  when  passing  their  room,  who  looked  at  each 
other  as  much  as  to  say :  "  You  see  the  rascal ;  he  knows 
that  we  have  no  money,  and  now  he  hardly  notices  us."  A 
servant  entered  and  handed  them  a  telegram,  which  read : 

"  Cashier  of  State  Bank  will  pay  you  five  hundred  dollars 
on  presentation  of  this  dispatch. 

"JOHN  JAMES  LA  MONTE." 

The  Counts  felt  greatly  relieved.  They  at  once  went  to 
the  bank,  and,  after  having  received  the  money,  took  the 
first  train  West,  without  bidding  Charles  Hunting  good-bye. 
He  did  not  notice  their  departure,  so  absorbed  was  he  with 
the  contents  of  his  father's  letter,  which,  though  lengthy,  we 
will  give  in  full : 

"DEAR  SON: 

"  The  weary  trials  and  bitter  disappointments  of  late, 
to  which  you  have  added  the  lion's  share,  have  finally 
brought  on  me  a  severe  sickness.  For  many  weeks  have  I 
been  prostrated  by  a  nervous  fever,  which  threatened  my 
life,  and  which  has  been  saved  only  through  the  careful  at- 
tention of  our  excellent  friend  and  physician,  Dr.  Dettman, 
and  the  watchful  nursing  of  your  good  mother,  sisters,  and 
my  aged  father.  God  bless  each  and  every  one  of  them  for 
the  care  they  have  so  affectionately  bestowed  on  me  in  the 
moments  of  danger  and  sickness. 

"  God  be  praised  for  His  grace,  that  I  am  permitted  to 
live  to  write  you  this  letter,  and  that  I  may  be  spared  a  few 
years  yet  to  carry  out  my  plan  in  regard  to  you  and  your 
sisters'  welfare.  My  estate  and  income  have  been  greatly 
impaired  through  the  extravagance  and  carelessness  of  my 
family.  But  let  me  draw  a  vail  over  the  past ;  let  all  be 


244  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

forgiven  and  forgotten — let  me  and  mine  do  our  whole 
duty  now,  to  protect  the  present  and  secure  a  happy  future. 

"  Heretofore  I  have  conducted  my  business  and  domestic 
affairs  with  foreign  help,  while  you,  your  sisters,  and  even 
myself  and  wife,  were  doing  nothing  but  spending  money, 
in  many  cases  foolishly.  This  must  be  changed,  and  the  fol- 
lowing programme  strictly  adhered  to  : 

"You  and  your  two  sisters  will  take  the  places  of  two  of 
my  principal  clerks,  Overbeck  and  Fastleben.  Every  day, 
precisely  at  half-past  seven,  you  and  two  of  your  sisters  will 
open  the  business  and  see  that  the  porters  and  boys  clean 
and  dust  the  premises.  All  the  orders  and  correspondence 
with  customers  of  the  firm  will  be  attended  to,  either  by 
Agnes,  Myra  or  Blanche ;  only  two  of  them  shall  work  at  a 
time  in  the  store,  and  change  from  day  to  day  with  the  work 
at  home.  Every  one  of  my  daughters  must  henceforth  pre- 
pare the  meals  for  the  family — one  day  Agnes,  the  next  day 
Myra,  the  third  day  Blanche.  At  half-past  twelve  dinner 
will  be  taken  at  home;  at  half-past  one  they  will  return  to 
the  office  and  remain  until  6  p.  M.  After  supper  there  will 
be  an  intellectual  entertainment,  consisting  of  music  and 
good  reading,  to  which  such  friends  of  the  family  will  be 
invited  as  I  and  your  mother  may  invite  or  permit  to  be 
invited.  In  this  manner  we  will  then  save  the  large  salaries 
of  clerks,  etc.,  and  have  our  work  done  much  better,  for  we 
will  do  it  ourselves.  This  employment  will  keep  you  and 
your  sisters  pleasantly  engaged,  and  save  you  from  com- 
mitting follies,  which  idleness  encourages.  Work  is  the  true 
promoter  of  health  and  happiness;  it  assists  wonderfully  to 
develop  our  better  qualities  and  to  keep  our  passions  in 
check,  and  no  man  can  expect  to  lead  a  happy  life  unless  he 
has  the  power  to  govern  his  passions. 

"As  a  good  father,  it  is  my  most  solemn  duty  to  keep  my 
children  employed,  so  that  they  may  have  the  benefit  of  that 
great  promoting  power  of  health  and  happiness.  I  have 
marked  out  the  plan  of  our  future  mode  of  living,  and  will 
not  deviate  from  it  one  iota.  If  you  wish  to  act  in  good  faith 


A   TALE   OP    REAL    LIFE.  245 

as  above  stated,  you  can  come  home  and  I  will  give  you  the 
details  of  your  department,  and  you  shall  share  in  the  glory 
of  restoring  our  estate  to  a  firmer  position  than  it  has  ever 
been  before. 

"  I  wish  to  impress  on  your  mind  that  if  you  conclude  to 
accept  my  programme,  I  expect  you  to  behave,  as  it  is  the 
duty  of  every  young  man.  No  disturbing  element  will 
henceforth  be  permitted  around  me.  I  treat  everybody 
kindl}',  and  have,  therefore,  the  right  to  expect  the  same  in 
return,  and  those  who  will  not  reciprocate  will  be  banished 
from  my  presence  and  memory  as  unworthy  of  my  kindness 
and  attention. 

"  My  son,  impress  the  above  lines  on  your  memory,  for 
they  have  been  accepted  by  me  as  the  Eleventh  Command- 
ment, and  will  be  religiously  observed  and  kept,  for  what- 
ever misfortunes  have  befallen  me,  I  can  directly  trace  them 
back  to  the  one  cause,  of  having  been  too  indulgent  and 
undecided  in  my  actions.  The  word  '  no '  I  have  not  used, 
and  therefore  have  had  to  suffer  all  the  dire  consequences.  No 
is  a  great  word  in  life  ;  it  is  the  stepping-stone  to  great  suc- 
cess ;  it  is  the  key  which  locks  the  door  to  Hell  and  unlocks 
the  gates  to  Heaven.  Well  would  it  have  been  for  your  rep- 
utation had  you  practiced  this  great  word  '  no.'  I  would 
have  been  saved  from  the  mortification  of  having  a  son  who 
courts  the  painted  sirens  and  '  fights  the  tiger; '  a  son  who, 
notwithstanding  he  was  born  and  reared  under  the  most 
favorable  circumstances,  endowed  with  health  and  intellect, 
with  a  classical  education,  is  still  a  '  nobody,'  while  thousands 
of  foreigners  come  to  this  blessed  land,  and  with  a  limited 
education,  without  a  knowledge  even  of  our  language,  cli- 
mate or  soil,  become  foremost  in  agriculture,  in  mechanical 
arts,  in  commerce  and  banking,  and  even  literature  and 
political  economy.  They  build  up  cities  as  by  magic,  and 
make  the  whole  land  flourish  and  re-echo  with  the  hum  of 
activity  and  industry.  But  you,  my  son,  are  not  one  who 
builds  up,  but  one  who  destroys  and  desolates. 

"  I  command  you  to  reform. 


246  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

"I  must  close,  for  I  begin  to  feel  very  weak;  my  hand 
trembles. 

"  Wishing  you  well,  I  am  your  father, 

"EDWARD  HUNTING." 

"Mr  DEAR  SON  CHARLEY: 

""With  the  permission  of  your  father,  I  add  to  this  letter 
that  I  fully  concur  in  what  your  father  has  written.  "We 
ought  to  try  to  work  as  much  as  possible  ourselves,  and  not 
be  so  dependent  on  hired  help.  Come  home;  make  yourself 
useful,  and  share  with  us  the  happy,  peaceful  life  we  will 
henceforth  lead. 

"  This  is  the  sincere  wish  of  your  loving  mother, 

"KATE  HUNTING." 

"  This  is  indeed  great  news,"  exclaimed  Charles.  "  My 
mother  consents  that  her  daughters  do  manual  labor !  Let 
me  not  stand  back,  but  hasten  home  and  redeem  my  name 
through  good  behavior  and  usefulness  1  " 


CHAPTBE    XII. 

The  aim  of  all  is  but  to  nurse  the  life 

"With  honor,  wealth,  and  ease,  in  waning  age; 
And  in  this  aim  there  is  such  thwarting  strife, 
That  one  for  all,  or  all  for  one,  we  gage, 
As  life  for  honor  in  fell  battles  rage ; 

Honor  for  wealth,  and  oft  that  wealth  doth  cost 
The  death  of  all,  and  all  together  lost. 

— Shakespeare. 

FOR  nearly  twenty  years  did  the  family  of  La  Monte  enjoy 
the  comfort  of  having  a  cook,  who  also  filled  the  position  of 
housekeeper,  superintending  the  other  servants,  and  manag- 


A  TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  247 

ing  so  admirably  as  to  keep  the  house  in  good  order.  Mrs. 
La  Monto  would  sometimes  scold  the  good  Mrs.  Wehlen,  but 
she  never  made  any  complaint  to  Mr.  La  Monte,  so  when  he 
entered  his  house  he  always  found  the  utmost  harmony  pre- 
vailing. 

Mrs.  Wehlen  caught  a  severe  cold  on  the  memorable  night 
of  her  visit  to  the  Emersons,  when  the  poor  baby  died,  and 
was  now  confined  to  her  bed.  It  was  fortunate  for  the  La 
Monte  family  that  Eosalind  had  been  accustomed  to  assist 
Mrs.  Wehlen  in  her  duties,  for  she  now  had  to  fill  her  place. 

Mrs.  La  Monte  was  very  unhappy.  She  had  many  things 
to  vex  and  displease  her.  The  Counts  Louis  and  Murat  had 
not  come ;  her  mother  had  acted  so  strangely  at  the  supper 
table ;  and  then  the  idea  of  the  son  of  her  servant  being 
invited  to  take  tea  with  her,  a  born  Bottwell !  She  also  felt 
vexed  that  her  housekeeper  was  ill,  because  she  had  no  one 
on  whom  to  vent  her  displeasure.  Besides,  her  daughters 
were  in  love,  and  suffering  the  agony  of  uncertainty  as  to 
whether  their  love  was  reciprocated,  which  made  them  quite 
gloomy  and  cheerless. 

Viola  did  not  confide  to  her  mother  the  secret  of  her  love 
for  Otto  Wehlen,  but  it  was  observed  with  what  kind  atten- 
tion she,  the  proud  Viola,  waited  on  Mrs.  Wehlen,  whom  she 
had  so  much  abused.  Her  mother  noticed  how  careful  she 
was  of  her  appearance  when  Otto  visited  his  mother,  and 
Viola's  assiduous  attentions  to  the  sick  housekeeper  were 
attributed  to  her  affection  for  the  son.  It  was  mortifying  to 
Mrs.  La  Monte  to  think  of  losing  caste  by  an  alliance  so 
degrading  to  her  family,  the  Bottwells.  She  took  an  early 
opportunity  to  inform  her  husband  of  her  suspicions. 

"And  do  you  think  that  the  young  man  loves  Viola?"  was 
the  anxious  query  of  the  husband. 

"Not  that  I  know  of,"  answered  the  wife;  "but  Mrs. 
Wehlen  is  now  sick,  and  of  no  further  use  to  the  family. 
Have  her  removed,  and  then  that  young  man  will  be  de- 
prived of  the  opportunity  to  visit  our  house." 

Mr.  La  Monte  would  not  consent  to  this,  saying  that  Mrs. 


248  OTJR   PROSPECTS. 

Wehlen  worked  faithfully  for  them  for  nearly  twenty  years, 
and  should  not  now  be  removed  from  the  house,  but  should 
be  treated  as  one  of  the  family. 

"  Do  you  mean,  sir,  to  keep  Mrs.  Wehlen  in  the  house 
against  my  will !"  exclaimed  Mrs.  La  Monte,  and  added,  in 
a  still  more  angry  tone :  "  You  must  know,  sir,  that  I  am  a 
born  Bottwell,  and  you  are — " 

"Stop!"  interrupted  the  husband.  "You  are  a  born 
vanity,  and  have  a  heart  that  feels  for  nothing  but  vain  and 
empty  show;  you  would  sacrifice  religion,  parents,  husband, 
children,  friends,  and  even  virtue,  on  the  altar  of  vanity! 
Nothing  is  right  with  you,  if  vanity  is  not  gratified.  Vanity 
like  drunkenness,  grows  and  grows,  if  the  passion  is  not 
checked." 

Mrs.  La  Monte  tried  to  argue,  but  the  husband  waved  his 
hand  and  said:  "  Check  your  vanity ;  don't  boast  so  much  as 
to  your  birth,  your  good  looks,  your  wealth  and  education, 
for  it  would  not  bear  an  examination  :  it  is  full  of  glaring  de- 
fects. But  if  you  wish  to  shine,  then  shine  as  the  gem,  of 
being  a  faultless,  good  and  wise  woman,  who  honors  her  hus- 
band, a  good  mother,  who  endeavors  to  set  before  her  chil- 
dren a  good  example;  a  wife  with  a  sweet  temper,  with  love 
of  order,  with  a  clear  judgment,  fearing  and  loving  God; 
a  wife  who  loves  the  truth,  and  is  an  example  to  her  neigh- 
bor. If  you  and  your  mother  would  be  all  this,  then  you 
could  have  some  claim  of  priding  yoiu-self  as  being  a  born 
Bottwell ;  but  as  it  is,  what  have  you  to  boast  of?  Did 
your  father  or  your  mother  ever  accomplish  anything,  either 
intellectually,  or  with  the  wealth  they  possess,  to  promote 
the  welfare  of  your  fellow-men?  I  pause  for  an  answer." 

But  Mrs.  La  Monte  made  no  reply ;  she  bowed  her  head 
mournfully,  and  the  husband  continued,  in  a  reproaching  yet 
kinder  tone: 

"All  you  ever  have  done  was  to  spend  money  and  abuse 
me,  when  I  endeavored  to  check  your  unnecessary  expenses. 
All  your  father  ever  did  was  to  make  money.  He  bought 
bonds,  on  which  there  are  no  taxes,  and  kept  them;  the  rest 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  249 

of  his  money  he  used  in  banking  and  broker  business,  ex- 
acting as  high  an  interest  as  his  victim  could  stand.  But 
as  for  him  to  subscribe  liberally,  according  to  his  wealth, 
for  building  more  railroads,  for  enlarging  our  canals,  for 
erecting  a  church,  or  to  help  at  least  to  pay  the  debt  of  the 
same,  so  that  the  taxation  on  the  pew-holders  might  bo 
reduced,  giving  the  poor  man  a  chance  to  join  the  congrega- 
tion— all  this  is  out  of  the  question  with  him;  or  to  donate 
liberally  to  the  Eelief  Fund,  to  the  Home  of  the  Friendless, 
to  the  Strangers'  Home,  to  the  Orphan  Asylum,  or  other 
charitable  institutions.  Your  father  never  gave  a  cent,  and, 
I  presume,  he  never  will.  As  for  your  mother,  she  passes 
her  time  before  the  mirror,  and  spends  all  the  money  she 
can  get  for  fineries  and  show.  I  doubt  she  ever  gave  one 
cent  for  charitable  purposes;  she  lives  in  the  continued  de- 
sire to  shine,  setting  an  example  of  demoralizing  extrava- 
gance. Yes,  to  such  an  extent  has  her  vanity  grown,  that 
she  must  have  her  shoes  made  of  velvet,  trimmed  with  furs, 
with  rosettes,  adorned  with  diamonds  and  other  costly  stones. 
Think  of  it !  A  woman  of  her  age,  to  dress  as  she  does,  to 
lift  up  her  dress  in  front,  so  that  her  costly  shoes  might  be 
seen  !  No,  still  more  ;  her  vanity  drives  her  to  such  an  ex- 
treme that  she  must  take  the  shoe  off  at  the  supper-table  and 
pass  it  around  to  be  admired  by  the  company  I" 

The  husband  made  another  pause,  strode  up  and  down 
the  room  with  rapid  steps,  watching  his  wife  who  gave  vent 
to  her  anger  and  mortification : 

"  I  wish  I  never  was  born,  then  at  least  I  would  have  been 
spared  of  marrying  a  man,  who  says  that  my  father,  my 
my  mother,  and  even  myself  are  nobodies.  Shame,  shame  on 
you,  to  treat  a  wife  in  such  a  manner  !" 

"  It  is  a  shame  for  a  husband,  who  neglects  his  duty,  to 
educate  his  wife,  at  least  to  make  her  sensible  to  her  faults 
and  false  pride.  You  pride  yourself  continually  of  being  a 
born  Bottwell ;  but  I  wish  to  show  you  that  you  have  no 
reason  whatever  to  pride  yourself  on  your  birth ;  you  have 
read  in  the  papers  a  sketch  of  your  ancestors,  and — " 


250  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

"  Please,  spare  me  about  my  ancestors,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  La 
Monte,  imploringly. 

"You  have  no  reason  to  be  ashamed  of  your  ancestors; 
your  great  grandfather  and  great  grandmother  were  poor, 
but  honorable  and  industrious  people.  They  were  producers, 
and  not  extravagant  consumers,  like  the  present  Bottwells  ; 
they  respected  the  feelings  of  their  fellow-men  and  were  no 
doubt  ready  to  give  a  helping  hand  to  the  needy,  a  virtue 
which  neither  your  parents  nor  yourself  can  claim." 

"  What  a  fault-finder,  what  a  lecturer  you  are ;  your  mother 
must  have  had  a  good  tongue,"  ejaculated  Mrs.  La  Monte, 
sneeringly. 

"I  will  find  fault  and  lecture  until  Mrs.  La  Monte  is  not 
only  a  lady  in  appearance,  but  a  lady  in  fact,"  answered  the 
husband,  firmly. 

"  And  does  Mr.  John  James  La  Monte  claim  to  be  the  per- 
fect gentleman  ?"  asked  the  wife,  mockingly. 

"  John  James  La  Monte  does  not  claim  to  be  a  perfect 
gentleman ;  he  aims  to  be  one,  and  hopes  to  succeed  in  his 
endeavor,"  replied  the  husband. 

"  I  hope  he  will  soon  reach  the  elevated  point  of  being  a 
gentleman,  so  as  to  comply  to  the  reasonable  request  of  his 
wife,  to  remove  a  servant  from  the  houste  who  is  sick  and, 
therefore,  of  no  further  use  to  the  family." 

"  The  request  is  not  reasonable  and,  therefore,  Mr.  La 
Monte  is  gentleman  enough  not  to  comply  with  your  request. 
Eeflect  on  it,  whether  it  is  just  and  right  to  remove  Mrs. 
Wehlen  from  our  house  in  her  present  condition — she  who 
has  lived  with  us  for  so  many  years  and  helped  to  raise  our 
children  and  beside — " 

"  Don't  say  anything  more  to  me.  I  will  not  listen  to  you, 
nor  will  I  speak  to  you  until  Mrs.  Wehlen  has  left  our  house. 
I  am  a  born  Bottwell,  and  when  I  will,  I  will !"  exclaimed 
Mrs.  La  Monte,  emphatically,  and  left  the  room. 

Days  passed  on,  but  Mrs.  La  Monte  would  not  listen  to 
any  remarks  which  her  husband  made.  She  would  not  speak 
to  him.  The  children  looked  on  in  dismay,  and  deep  gloom 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  251 

prevailed  in  the  house.  Only  when  Otto  came  to  see  his 
mother  there  was  a  streak  of  sunshine,  for  Mr.  La  Monte 
managed  it  always  so  that  the  young  man  prolonged  his 
stay. 

Matters  went  on  in  this  way  until  Mr.  La  Monte  became 
tired  of  it,  and  lost  his  patience,  and  resolved  to  cure  Mrs. 
La  Monte  of  her  whim.  Coming  home  from  the  bank,  he 
opened  every  bureau,  and  taking  out  the  fine  dresses  belong- 
ing to  his  wife,  he  took  them  and,  after  examining  them  with 
great  attention,  threw  them  on  the  floor.  He  also  took  all 
the  white  linen,  and  shook  each  piece  separately. 

Mrs.  La  Monte  looked  on  in  great  amazement,  saying  to 
herself,  "Is  my  husband  getting  crazy  that  he  tosses  my  fine 
dresses  and  costly  underclothing  in  such  a  manner?" 

Mr.  La  Monte  took  hold  even  of  the  box  containing  the 
fine  laces,  opened  it,  and  commenced  to  shake  rudely  a  hand- 
kerchief worth  two  hundred  dollars. 

"  Mr.  La  Monte,"  exclaimed  the  wife,  "  what  are  you  look- 
ing for?" 

The  husband  made  no  reply.  He  took  hold  of  a  superb 
Honiton  lace  collar,  and  shook  it  even  more  rudely  than  the 
handkerchief. 

"  Pray,  husband,  what  are  you  looking  after  ?  What  do 
you  wish  to  find?  " 

"  Your  tongue  /"  answered  Mr.  La  Monte,  good  naturedly, 
"for  the  Counts  are  coming." 

"  The  Counts  Louis  and  Murat  La  Monte  are  coming!"  ex- 
claimed Mrs.  La  Monte,  joyfully. 

"  Here  is  a  telegram  I  have  just  received,"  answered  Mr. 
La  Monte,  handing  his  wife  the  dispatch  from  Bangor. 

Mrs.  La  Monte  read  it,  and  grew  deadly  pale. 

"  What !  are  the  noble  Counts  so  poor  that  they  have  to 
make  a  loan  of  five  hundred  dollars?  There  is  some  mys- 
tery about  this.  Perhaps  they  suffered  shipwreck,  and  bo- 
came  reduced." 

"Yes,  they  got  wrecked,  but  not  shipwrecked,  through 
gambling  and  reckless  dissipation.  I  have  it  from  good 


252  OUR    PROSPECTS. 

authority  that  they  are  corrupt  and  consummate  rascals.  If 
that  information  is  correct,  the  shorter  they  make  their 
stay  in  our  city  the  better  it  will  be  for  the  reputation  of  our 
family,"  said  the  husband,,earnestly. 

"  I  hope  you  are  misinformed,  and  that  they  are  real  gen- 
tlemen, will  fall  in  love  with  Eosalind  and  Viola,  and  marry 
them.  What  happiness  for  a  mother,  to  have  her  daughters 
married  to  two  Counts!"  exclaimed  Mrs.  La  Monte,  hopefully. 

"There  is  your  vanity  again !  Your  vanity  would  induce 
you  to  marry  your  daughters  to  those  Counts,  whose  home  is 
beyond  the  sea,  and  you  would  be  separated  from  them.  I 
am  certain  that  both  Kosalind  and  Yiola  can  marry  young 
men  from  our  neighborhood  who  are  noble  by  nature,  and 
will  make  as  good,  and  even  better  husbands.  Then  they 
need  not  leave  home  and  this  land  when  they  are  married," 
said  Mr.  La  Monte,  earnestly. 

A  gentle  knock  was  given  on  the  door. 

"  Come  in,"  said  Mrs.  La  Monte. 

Yiola  entered  the  room,  dressed  in  a  blue  velvet  riding- 
dress,  with  no  other  ornaments  but  large  white  pearl 
buttons  of  the  best  quality,  set  closely  in  the  front  of  her 
slender  waist,  and  on  her  arm  sleeves.  Her  head  was  covered 
in  becoming  manner  with  a  black-silk  beaver  hat;  she 
was  putting  on  a  pair  of  dove-colored  riding-gauntlets,  and 
under  her  arm  she  held  a  riding-whip,  the  handle  of  which 
•was  ornamented  with  gold,  nicely  engraved.  The  young 
lady  looked  very  beautiful,  and  was  somewhat  in  haste  to  be 
oif,  as  she  expected  a  very  pleasant  ride  and  gay  company. 

"Pa,"  said  she,  in  her  most  winning  tone,  "you  have  per- 
haps forgotten  your  promise  to  take  a  horseback  ride  with 
us  this  afternoon.  Eosalind  and  Winfred  have  already 
mounted  their  horses,  and  mine  is  getting  restless.  Will  you 
honor  us  with  your  company,  or  shall  we  go  alone  ?  " 

"  Very  acute,"  muttered  the  father  to  himself,  with  a  smile, 
and  addressing  his  wife,  he  said,  "  Please,  take  a  ride  with 
us ;  we  will  wait  till  you  are  dressed." 

"No,  husband,  I  thank  you.    I  wish  to  put  my  wardrobe 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  253 

in  order.  Viola,  the  noble  Counts  Louis  and  Murat  are  com- 
ing. Ain't  you  glad  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  care  much  for  their  visit.  They  have  disap- 
pointed us,  and  even  given  no  explanation,  which  has  low- 
ered them  much  in  my  esteem." 

Mr.  La  Monte  felt  happy  to  hear  his  daughter  express  her- 
self thus,  and  thought,  "  She  has  good  reasons,  she  is  setting 
her  cap  for  a  real  nobleman.  The  closer  I  observe  Otto  \Veh- 
len,  the  better  I  like  him.  He  is  a  capital  young  man. 
Yiola.  is  my  horse  saddled  ?  " 

"  Yes,  pa,  everything  is  ready,"  answered  Yiola,  promptly. 

Mr.  La  Monte,  when  bidding  his  wife  good-bye,  said,  pleas- 
antly: "Have  you  nothing  to  give  me  before  I  leave?" 

"Since  you  have  looked  for  my  tongue  so  cleverly,  I  will 
give  you  a  kiss."  The  husband  smiled,  when  he  received  the 
kiss,  yet  it  was  a  kiss  of  mere  form.  Mrs.  La  Monte  was  too 
much  occupied  with  her  vanity  to  be  capable  of  kissing 
heartily,  and  Mr.  La  Monte  was  too  busy  making  money,  to 
love  as  he  should.  He  did  not  ask  for  the  kiss,  for  the  sake 
of  love,  but  for  the  sake  of  peace ;  and  it  is  our  firm  convic- 
tion, that  no  man  can  become  a  diplomate  and  a  statesman 
of  the  highest  order,  except  he  has  been  married  many  years, 
especially  to  a  woman  like  Mrs.  La  Monte.  In  order  to  illus- 
trate this  assertion,  we  refer  our  reflecting  readers  to  the 
administrations  of  President  Buchanan  and  President  Lin- 
coln. Behold  the 'helplessness  of  the  bachelor  Buchanan, 
and  the  skillful  tact  and  dove-like  patience  of  the  married 
Lincoln.  His  married  life  made  it  a  necessity  to  manage  his 
home  affairs  with  diplomacy  and  great  patience.  He  grew 
up  with  it,  and  became  the  giant  of  diplomacy,  through 
patience. 

Patience  is  one  of  the  greatest  gifts  that  man  possesses. 
Patience  to  bear  unreasonableness — patience  to  listen  to  the 
thousand  follies,  one  is  compelled  to  hear — patience  to  over- 
come ourselves  in  the  hour  of  temptation — patience  to  study — 
patience  to  wait  till  our  turn  comes — is  indispensable  to  de- 
velop our  capacities  and  make  of  us  able  and  happy  human 


254  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

beings.  Eeader !  whoever  you  may  be,  learn  and.  practice 
patience.  You  will  find  it  a  safe  staff  as  we  hobble  daily 
to  our  grave. 

Mrs.  La  Monte  looked  from  the  window  after  her  husband, 
son  and  daughters,  and  proudly  exclaimed  :  "  It  is,  after  all, 
nice  to  have  children !  How  knightly  Winfred  looks,  and 
how  charming  Eosalind  and  Viola  appear  on  horseback.  If 
the  Counts  would  now  come  and  see  them,  I  am  sure  that 
they  would  fall  in  love  at  first  sight." 

"  Where  shall  we  ride  ?  "  asked  Mr.  La  Monte. 

"Pa,  let  us  ride  to  the  new  Metropolitan  Park.  I  have 
heard  so  much  about  it,  and  have  never  seen  the  grounds," 
said  Viola,  archly. 

"  We  might  ride  there  as  well  as  anywhere  else,"  observed 
the  father,  turning  his  horse  in  that  direction,  and  chuckling 
to  himself:  "Matters  work  satisfactorily.  Otto  said  he 
would  ride  out  this  afternoon  to  the  new  park  ;  the  young 
people,  no  doubt,  made  an  appointment;  I  have  no  objection. 
Otto  will  make  a  good  husband  and  knows  how  to  arouse  the 
better  qualities  in  Viola.  It  is  wonderful  how  she  has 
changed  since  she  is  in  love  with  the  young  man.  She  ap- 
pears now,  more  like  an  angel  than  the  unreasonable  maiden 
she  used  to  be." 

Viola  was  very  happy  to  see  that  her  father  so  readily  con- 
sented to  her  request.  "  Otto  will  also  come  ;  he  said  so,  in 
his  conversation,"  and  she  was  anxious  to  see  him  on  horse- 
back, where  he  appeared  to  his  best  advantage. 

Eosalind  and  Winfred  rode  ahead ;  Eosalind  listening  to 
her  brother,  who  explained  to  her  the  different  strata  of 
every  hill  they  passed. 

Mr.  La  Monte  rode  at  the  side  of  Viola,  and  asked  her, 
"How  is  Mrs.  Wehlen  to-day?" 

"  Much  better,"  answered  the  daughter.  "  I  never  knew 
what  a  lady-like  woman  she  is;  so  patient,  so  resigned, 
so  hopeful  of  the  future,  and  not  at  all  proud.  Since  I  am 
waiting  on  her,  I  have  become  convinced  that  it  is  very  fool- 
ish to  be  so  proud ;  for  we  are  poor,  depending  creatures  j 


A   TALE    OF   REAL    LIFE.  255 

the  least  mishap  upsets  us,  and  we  are  helpless.  I  thought 
so  when  visiting  grandfather  Bottwell,  and  noticed  his  help- 
lessness and  agonizing  pain.  All  his  wisdom,  and  all  his 
wealth  could  not  give  him  help  and  repose.  God  only  above 
us,  can  help  him,  but  He  does  not  seem  to  hear  his  prayers. 
Poor  grandfather,  I  hope  he  will  soon  recover;  but  there  is 
one  thing,  pa,  that  I  would  like  to  ask  you,"  said  Yiola,  slack- 
ening the  step  of  her  horse. 

"What  is  it,  daughter?  "  asked  the  father,  affectionately. 

"Why  did  the  papers  report  daily  about  Mr.  Edward 
Hunting's  sickness,  and  state  now  joyfully  that  he  is  consid- 
ered out  of  danger  by  the  very  able  Dr.  Dettmann?  Why 
is  there  no  report  and  no  interest  taken  about  grandfather 
Bottwell?  He  is  a  much  older  and  wealthier  man  than  Mr. 
Edward  Hunting.  Pa,  can  you  explain  it  to  me  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Viola.  Your  grandfather,  though  a  much  older  and 
wealthier  gentleman  than  Mr.  Edward  Hunting,  has  not 
used  his  talents  and  a  portion  of  his  wealth  for  the  welfare 
of  the  many ;  or,  in  other  words,  he  has  not  been  public 
spirited.  He  used  all  his  vast  means  for  selfish  purposes. 
He  has  taken  no  interest  in  the  prosperity  of  the  community, 
further  than  what  directly  interested  him,  and  is  so  consid- 
ered by  his  fellow-men.  Having  taken  no  interest  in  them, 
they  now  take  no  interest  in  him,  while  Mr.  Edward  Hunt- 
ing, by  always  being  a  charitable,  public-spirited  citizen, 
endeared  himself,  through  his  kind  acts,  to  the  community. 
He  set  a  good  example,  and  the  public  sympathize  with  him 
in  his  ailment,  and  hope  for  his  recovery.  The  press  only 
reflects  public  opinion.  My  child,  now  mark  what  I  say : 
The  world  is  a  mirror.  If  you  show  the  mirror  a  pleasant 
face,  the  mirror  reflects  back  a  pleasant  face ;  if  you  show 
the  mirror  a  sour,  peevish,  wry  face,  the  mirror  reflects  back 
just  such  a  face.  In  due  time,  we  pass  for  what  we  really 
are,  no  more,  no  less.  Public  opinion  seldom  errs;  it  is  the 
verdict  of  combined  wisdom,"  said  Mr.  La  Monte,  in  great 
earnestness. 

"  Now  I  comprehend  the  meaning ;  when  the  people  say, 


256  OTTR   PROSPECTS. 

like  they  often  do  in  the  cars  when  they  go  or  come  from 
their  business,  'this  town  will  not  get  another  start  until  we 
have  a  good  many  first-class  funerals,'  and  by  that  they  mean 
that  such  rich  men  as  grandfather  Bottwell,  who  do  nothing 
for  the  advancement  of  their  city's  prosperity,  should  die. 
Ain't  this  horrid,  to  wait  for  a  man's  death,"  exclaimed 
Yiola,  looking  at  her  father,  as  much  as  to  say,  '  What  do  you 
think  of  it?' 

A  cold  shudder  passed  through  Mr.  La  Monte's  frame,  for 
his  conscience  said  to  him,  "  You  are  also  a  rich  man,  who 
does  nothing  for  the  public  welfare.  As  a  wealthy  man,  it  is 
your  duty  to  use  your  wealth  for  the  advancement  of  com- 
merce and  the  prosperity  of  the  many.  If  you  continue  to 
hoard  money,  and  do  no  liberal  act,  the  people  will  joyfully 
hear  of  your  death,  for  you  are  an  obstruction,  an  impediment 
to  public  prosperity."  Eecovering  from  his  conscious  review, 
he  said,  "Yes,  daughter,  it  is  horrid  to  contemplate  that  the 
public  should  actually  wish  one  to  die,  but  it  only  shows 
what  a  useless  life  those  rich  men  lead.  Truly  we  live  in  an 
age  of  activity,  when  it  is  expected  that  the  rich  should  use 
their  wealth  to  push  forward  commerce,  and  with  it,  improve- 
ments. To  stand  back  is  considered  almost  a  crime.  On- 
ward! onward!  is  now  the  motto  of  mankind.  Let  your 
presence  be  felt  for  the  good  of  the  many,  or  at  least  be  a 
part  of  the  great  body  that  adds  to  the  knowledge,  wealth 
and  happiness  of  humanity.  Fail  to  do  this,  and  you  might 
as  well  be  under  a  mound,  filling  the  mission  assigned  to  our 
bones,  to  become  again  a  handful  of  dust,  to  be  mingled  with 
the  vast  earth  and  vapor.  Truly  nothing  is  lost  in  this  won- 
drous creation;  everything  must,  of  its  own  free  will,  fill  its 
mission.  Failing  in  it,  it  must  perish  before  its  allotted 
time,  and  become  again  chalk  and  vapor,  unhonored  and  for- 
gotten by  all." 

"  Papa,  see!  see!"  exclaimed  Yiola,  excitedly. 

"  What,  my  daughter?"  asked  the  father,  quickly. 

"  Yonder,  on  the  top  of  the  hill,  I  see  Otto  on  his  horse, 
waving  his  hat  to  us,"  answered  Viola,  giving  her  horse  a 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  257 

touch  with  her  riding  whip,  and  galloping  forward  in  that 
direction. 

Mr.  La  Monte  was  taken  by  surprise  to  see  his  daughter 
Yiola  so  delighted  at  the  sight  of  Otto  Wehlen,  and  with 
what  joy  she  hastened  to  meet  him.  He  spurred  his  horse 
to  keep  up,  but  Viola  was  ahead,  and  greeted  Otto  before 
the  father  reached  them,  who,  however,  gladly  noticed  the 
happiness  of  both  when  they  met. 

Rosalind  and  Winfred  joined  the  party,  and  all  were  de- 
lighted with  the  beautiful  spring  weather,  and  the  romantic 
scenery  that  presented  itself  to  their  view. 

Otto  was  well  informed  about  the  plan  of  the  projected 
Park,  and  explained  to  them,  in  full  detail,  all  the  contem- 
plated improvements.  He  said  :  "  It  will  be  one  of  the 
grandest  Parks  in  the  world,  and  the  people  will  flock  here 
with  their  little  ones  to  enjoy  God's  great  gift,  pure  air. 
Parks  are  the  lungs  of  a  city ;  every  ten  squares  ought  to 
have,  at  least,  a  ten-acre  Park,  with  plenty  of  walks,  and 
shady  ti'ees,  and  water  spouts,  to  please  the  sight,  and  amuse 
the  little  ones." 

"Are  you  the  friend  of  the  people?"  asked  Yiola,  looking 
admiringly  at  Otto. 

"  I  am,  and  hope  always  to  be,"  answered  the  young  man, 
promptly.  "  But  why  do  you  ask?'' 

"Why,"  exclaimed  Viola,  blushingly  and  hesitatingly, 
"  because  I  would  like  to  see  you  loved  and  honored  by  all." 
"You  make  me  happy,  very  happy,  by  your  remarks," 
observed  Otto,  joyfully,  and  continued,  "  but  to  —  "  He 
could  not  finish  his  sentence,  for  his  horse  felt  the  rider's 
nervousness,  and  gave  a  quick  start,  which  Otto  did  not 
check,  and  Viola  gladly  galloped  at  the  side  of  him  she  loved. 
Seeing  that  they  were  far  ahead  of  Mr.  La  Monte,  .Rosa- 
lind and  Winfred,  they  mutually  reined  in  their  horses,  and 
Otto  said:  "To  be  loved  and  honored  by  all  should  be  the 
aim  of  all,  and  those  who  enjoy  the  great  bliss  of  being  loved 
and  honored  by  all  must  feel  happy  j  but  it  would  not  com- 


258  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

plete  my  happiness,  except  I  were  loved  and  honored  by  you, 
Miss  La  Monte,  as  my  darling  wife." 

"  It  fills  my  heart  with  proud  emotion  to  be  solicited  by 
you  to  become  your  wife.  You  have  my  consent,  if  you  can 
get  that  of  my  dear  parents,"  answered  the  loving  maiden, 
gently,  deep  blushes  mantling  her  cheeks,  and  her  beautiful 
eyes  filling  with  happy  tears. 

"  Then  let  us  seal  our  betrothment  with  an  everlasting 
kiss,"  exclaimed  Otto,  happily,  wheeling  his  horse  nearer  to 
the  beloved  Viola,  who  unhesitatingly  accepted  the  first  kiss 
from  him  who  possessed  her  heart. 

On  they  rode,  over  hill  and  dale.  They  no  longer  noticed 
the  beautiful  scenery  which  surrounded  them  ;  the  whole 
world,  with  its  responsibilities,  was  forgotten  by  the  young 
couple ;  they  talked  only  of  their  holy  love,  their  happiness 
BOW,  and  their  happiness  to  come. 

Swift  as  the  wind,  and  his  horse  foaming,  Winfred  followed 
them,  exclaiming:  "Why,  where  are  you  riding  !  We  are 
now  miles  away  from  home ;  it  is  getting  late ;  father  said 
you  should  return." 

"  Did  he?"  answered  Viola.  "  Our  ride  is  so  pleasant  that 
we  hardly  noticed  the  distance  and  the  time." 

"  You  must  have  enjoyed  your  ride  and  the  scenery  won- 
derfully, not  to  notice  how  late  it  was  getting,  and  not  even 
to  hear  my  call." 

"Yes,"  added  Otto,  with  a  happy  smile,  looking  at  Viola, 
"  we  have  been  enjoying  our  ride  finely,  and  will  now  often 
take  an  exercise,  as  the  season  advances;  won't  we?"  he 
asked,  archly. 

"  Of  course  we  will,  if  pa  will  allow  it,"  answered  Viola, 
nodding  her  head. 

"  You  ride  too  fast  for  me,"  observed  Winfred.  "  When  I 
take  a  ride,  I  ride  slowly,  in  order  to  take  in  the  scenery, 
and  to  speculate  on  geology  as  I  pass  on." 

"  Geology  is  a  very  instructive  study,"  remarked  Otto, 
"and  one  that  requires  a  good  deal  of  observation  and 


A   TALE   OF   REAL    LIFE.  259 

research,  but  which  richly  repays  for  investigation  and 
care." 

Winfred  now  gave  his  views  on  this  subject,  and  thus  con- 
versing, they  reached  their  residence.  Otto  did  not  enter, 
but  requested  Viola  to  remember  him  kindly  to  both  mothers. 

Mrs.  La  Monte,  who  was  waiting  for  her  children,  was 
delighted  to  see  Yiola  so  overjoyed  and  happy,  the  healthful 
ride  making  her  look  even  more  beautiful.  She  kissed  her 
daughter,  saying,  "  Yiola,  you  must  have  enjoyed  your  ride 
splendidly.  You  look  as  beautiful  and  happy  as  a  bride.  0, 
if  these  Counts  were  only  here  to  see  you;  one  of  them  would 
be  sure  to  fall  in  love  with  you,  and  make  you  the  Countess 
La  Monte." 

Yiola  made  no  reply.  She  felt  sad  when  she  thought  of 
the  great  disappointment  she  would  give  to  her  mother,  to 
hear  that  she  was  not  the  bride  of  Count  La  Monte,  but  of 
Otto  Wehlen,  whose  mother  was  their  cook.  For  the  first 
time  did  she  look  upon  her  engagement  with  Otto  in  this 
light.  "He,  the  son  of  Mrs.  Wehlen,  her  betrothed  and 
future  husband  !  But  what  of  it?  Is  not  Otto  a  gentleman 
of  fine  culture  and  good  habits,  and  is  his  mother  not  a  good 
and  honest  woman?  What  more  should  a  girl  desire  but  to 
marry  a  young  man  of  good  health,  and  of  good  character, 
whom  she  loves,  and  whose  parents,  though  poor,  are  honest 
and  respectable?"  With  these  thoughts,  and  without  even 
taking  off  her  riding  suit,  she  hastened  to  Mrs.  Wehlen,  who, 
for  the  first  time  since  her  sickness,  was  sitting  in  her  chair. 
Entering  the  room,  she  said  in  her  most  winning  voice: 
"Mrs.  Wehlen,  papa,  Eosalind,  Winfred,  and  myself  took  a 
horseback  ride,  and  we  met  Otto,  who  commissioned  me  to 
give  you  his  love." 

"Thank  you,  Yiola.  You  are  very  kind  to  have  called  on 
me  even  before  you  changed  your  riding  dress.  How  is  my 
dear  son?" 

"He  is  enjoying  very  good  health,  and  is  the  most  accom- 
plished horseman  I  ever  met,"  observed  Yiola. 

"  Thank  God,  that  I  have  a  son  who,  whatever  he  does, 


260  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

does  it  well,  so  your  good  father  informs  me ;  and  to  a 
mother,  it  is  the  greatest  blessing  on  earth  to  have  good  and 
useful  children." 

"  Mrs.  Wehlen,"  said  Viola,  in  a  very  meek  and  humiliating 
voice  and  manner,  "  I  have,  in  my  foolish  moments,  often 
offended  you,  and  said  and  done  many  things  to  hurt  your 
feelings,  for  which  I  feel  very  sorry  and  repentant.  I  now 
ask  your  forgiveness  and  pardon." 

She  could  say  no  more,  but  threw  herself  upon  her  knees, 
and  grasping  the  meager,  hard-worked  hand  of  Mrs.  Weh- 
len, she  covered  it  with  kisses,  while  tears  were  flowing 
down  her  beautiful  cheeks.  She  moaned  and  cried :  "  For- 
give me  !  forgive  me  !  " 

"Arise,  my  child;  calm  yourself;  you  are  forgiven,  for 
you  have  amply  repaid  me  by  your  great  attention  and  kind- 
ness through  my  sickness.  Now,  don't  cry ;  it  makes  me 
sad  to  see  you  weep  ;  for  having,  with  God's  assistance,  saved 
your  life,  I  always  looked  upon  you  as  my  child,  my  daugh- 
ter." 

"And  I  am  your  daughter.  Your  noble  son  has  to  day 
asked  me  to  become  his  wife,  and  I  have  consented,  and  am 
forever  his.  Kiss  me,  mother,"  implored  the  repenting 
maiden,  embracing  Mrs.  Wehlen,  most  affectionately. 

Mrs.  Wehlen  could  hardly  believe  her  senses.  "Viola,  the 
proud  Viola,  betrothed  to  her  son,  and  she,  the  poor,  the 
despised  Mrs.  Wehlen,  to  be  now  the  mother-in-law  of  Mrs. 
John  James  La  Monte's  daughter !  How  mysterious  are  the 
ways  of  Heaven,  for  surely  the  finger  of  God  is  in  all  this. 
What  next?  "  thought  she,  trying  to  collect  her  mind. 

The  door  was  violently  opened,  and  Mrs.  La  Monte  entered, 
apparently  in  ill  humor.  Seeing  her  proud  daughter,  Viola 
in  the  embrace  of  Mrs.  Wehlen,  she  was  for  the  moment 
dumbfounded,  but  soon  the  wrath  which  had  for  some  time 
been  raging  within  her,  broke  out,  and  with  the  words, 
"You  good-for-nothing  old  witch,  you  are  bewitching  my 
daughter;  you  have  bewitched  my  husband,  who  will  not 
remove  you  from  the  house.  I  will  kill  you,  and  get  rid  of 


A   TALE    OF    REAL    LIFE.  261 

you,"  she  sprang  with  the  agility  of  an  enraged  tigress 
toward  the  mantel-piece,  and  grasping  the  iron  poker,  was 
about  hurling  it  at  the  head  of  the  innocent  Mrs.  Wehlen, 
when  Viola  quickly  took  hold  of  her  mother's  uplifted  arm, 
and  in  a  firm  voice  said  : 

"  Ma,  for  God's  sake,  don't !  for  1  am  Otto  Wehlen's  bride  !  " 

The  poker  fell  from  the  hand  of  Mrs.  La  Monte. 

"My  daughter,  the  grandchild  of  the  Bottwells,  betrothed 
to  the  son  of  my  cook!"  She  uttered  one  unnatural  shriek 
of  pain,  and  fainted. 

Mrs.  Wehlen  and  Viola  quickly  assisted  and  tried  to  revive 
the  unhappy  Mrs.  La  Monte.  Mr.  La  Monte  heard  the  shriek 
of  distress.  He  hastened  to  Mrs.  Wehlen's  room,  and  seeing 
his  wife  lying  senseless  on  the  floor,  he  exclaimed  : 

"Mrs.  Wehlen,  Viola,  what  is  the  matter?" 

He  took  a  pitcher  of  cold  water,  and  bathed  the  face  and 
head  of  his  wife.  "  Tell  me  what  has  happened."  But  Mrs. 
Wehlen  and  Viola  remained  silent. 

The  wife  soon  recovered  her  consciousness,  but  her  eyes 
looked  vaguely  and  strangely  around. 

"  There  is  no  justice,"  she  exclaimed,  "there  is  no  God,  else 
I  would  not  have  married  the  son  of  a  washwoman !  And 
now  my  daughter  wishes  to  marry  the  son  of  a  cook !  There 
is  no  justice,  there  is  no  God  !"  moaned  she,  tearing  her  hair. 

"Theodosia,  calm  yourself.  Remember  that  you  are  a 
Christian  woman,  a  born  Bottwell,  whom  it  behooves  to  be 
resigned  and  calm.  You  show  too  much  weakness.  Don't 
lament  so.  Collect  yourself.  Arise,  and  look  up  to  Him, 
our  Heavenly  Father.  Don't  tear  your  hair.  As  a  humau 
being  you  have  no  right  to  do  so,  for  you  are  God's  image. 
As  a  Christian  it  is  your  duty  to  be  meek,  to  be  resigned,  to 
be  merciful  unto  others,"  said  the  husband  in  a  tremulous 
voice.  But  these  words  had  no  effect  on  Mrs.  La  Monte,  the 
born  Bottwell,  and  she  began  to  weep  as  if  her  very  heart 
would  break. 

Mr.  La  Monte  paused,  but  suddenly  clapped  his  hands  and 
exclaimed: 


262  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

"  I  hoar  a  carriage  coming.  I  guess  the  Counts  havo  ar- 
rived!" 

At  the  words,  "  The  Counts  have  arrived,"  Mrs.  La  Monte 
ceased  crying.  She  quickly  dried  her  tears,  and  adjusted 
her  dress.  Mr.  La  Monte  offered  her  his  arm,  saying  : 

"  I  will  assist  you  to  your  room,  where  you  can  make  your 
toilet.  Eosalind  will  assist  you."  Turning  to  Viola,  he  said, 
in  a  commanding  voice,  "  Viola,  go  at  once  to  your  room,  and 
dress  as  for  an  evening  reception.  When  done,  come  to  the 
reception  room." 

"  Yes,  my  child,  go  and  do  your  best  to  appear  well  before 
the  noble  Counts.  You  always  have  been  my  good  daughter, 
and  you  will,  to  please  me,  give  up  this  notion  to  marry  the 
son  of  an  old  cook,  when  you  might  as  well  marry  a  Count, 
and  become  the  Countess  La  Monte,"  said  Mrs.  La  Monte. 

The  father  gave  a  sign  to  Viola  not  to  make  any  reply. 
After  escorting  his  wife  to  her  room,  he  hurried  to  the  stable, 
and  ordered  Jim  to  harness  the  horses  to  the  carriage  as 
quickly  as  possible,  and  to  drive  to  the  front  door.  "Be 
brisk,  my  lad,"  said  he. 

Mr.  La  Monte  then  went  to  the  front  door,  and  pulled  the 
door-bell  violently.  He  took  his  night-key,  opened  the 
door,  and  said,  in  a  loud  voice : 

"  So,  grandfather  is  worse,  and  sends  for  us.  Did  he  wish 
us  to  come? " 

He  paused,  and  then  continued : 

"You  say  he  did.  "Well,  just  hurry  back,  and  tell  him  we 
are  coming  directly." 

When  closing  the  door,  he  had  the  satisfaction  to  hear  Jim 
coming  noiselessly  with  the  carriage.  He  hurried  up  stairs 
to  his  wife,  saying : 

"  The  Counts  did  not  come ;  the  carriage  we  heard  was 
from  grandfather." 

"  I  heard  the  bell,  went  to  the  stairs  and  listened  to  all. 
Poor  father  !  I  am  sorry  he  is  not  getting  better.  But  must 
I  go  there  to-night?  Would  it  not  answer  as  well  for  you 
and  Winfred  to  visit  father,  and  to  let  me  know  how  he  is?" 


A  TALE  OP   REAL  LIFE.  zbd 

Gladly  would  Mr.  La  Monte  have  staid  at  home  with  his 
wife,  but  he  knew  it  to  be  necessary  to  give  her  a  change  of 
air,  and,  while  doing  so,  gradually  to  inform  her  that  Otto 
Wehlen  were  an  excellent  young  man,  of  great  ability  and  an 
unerring  good  judgment ;  that  he  were  five  times  richer  than 
himself,  he  being  worth  only  two  hundred  thousand  dollars, 
while  Otto  Wehlen  was  worth  a  million  in  real  estate ;  and 
that  Viola  would  make  a  splendid  match,  and  that  all  the 
young  ladies  of  the  city  would  envy  her.  There  was  another 
reason  for  not  having  his  wife  at  home  that  evening — because 
ho  expected  Otto  to  ask  their  consent  to  the  betrothal  of 
their  daughter  Yiola,  and  if  Mrs.  La  Monte  were  not  pre- 
pared, she  might  treat  the  young  man  with  disrespect  and 
contempt,  and  insult  him  in  such  a  manner  that  he  would 
consider  it  as  being  against  his  own  manhood  to  solicit  her 
consent  any  further,  and  so  spoil  his  great  game. 

All  that  passed  through  Mr.  La  Monte's  mind  when  he 
said: 

"No,  dear;  father  sends  for  us,  and  it  is  our  duty  to  go." 

"Then  I  will  dress  and  go;  but  Viola  must  go  with  us;  I 
will  not  leave  her  at  home  with  that  witch  "Wehlen."  • 

"  Of  course,  Viola  will  go  with  us." 

This  just  suited  Mr.  La  Monte,  for  he  did  not  wish  Viola 
to  be  home  when  Otto  came  that  evening.  He  quickly  went 
to  Viola's  room,  knocked  on  the  door,  and  said: 

"  Viola,  I  and  mother  will  visit  grandfather  this  evening  ; 
dress  yourself  to  go  with  us.  lam  in  haste,  please,  be  quick." 
He  then  sought  Rosalind,  and  said: 

"  Daughter,  as  soon  as  I,  your  mother,  and  Viola  have  left, 
you  will  go  to  Mrs.  Wehlen,  and  try  to  excuse  your  mother 
for  her  harsli  treatment  and  insulting  words.  Don't  leave 
her  until  we  return,  and  if  Otto  should  come,  you  may  in- 
form him,  in  the  course  of  conversation,  that  grandfather 
feels  worse,  and  has  sent  for  us.  I  request  you  not  to  leave 
Otto  alone  with  his  mother  this  evening,  and  manage  it  so 
that  Otto  leaves  the  house  before  eleven.  Inform  Winfred 


264  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

of  all  I  said,  so  that  he  may  assist  you  in  carrying  out  my 
instructions." 

"  Yes,  pa,  I  will  do  as  you  direct,"  answered  Eosalind, 
receiving  a  kiss  from  her  father  in  return. 

Mr.  La  Monte  then  went  to  the  coachman  and  said  : 
"  Jim,  you  will  drive  very  slow  to  the  Bottwells  and  back. 
In  case  Mrs.  La  Monte  should  order  you  to  drive  faster,  do 
so ;  but  make  up  by  driving  to  and  fro,  for  I  do  not  wish  to 
return  before  eleven." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  answered  Jim,  respectfully ;  but  after  Mr.  La 
Monte  left  he  went  on  soliloquizing:  "Mr.  La  Monte  is  a 
rich  man,  but  not  for  all  his  money  would  I  have  a  wife  like 
his.  For  weeks  she  would  not  talk  to  him,  and  I  wonder 
how  he  made  her  talk  again.  Now,  he  comes  and  orders  to 
harness  the  horses  to  the  carriage  as  quick  as  lightning; 
then  he  comes  again  and  orders  to  drive  very  slow,  and  if 
Mrs.  La  Monte  would  order  to  drive  faster,  to  do  so ;  but  to 
make  it  up  in  driving  about,  since  he  does  not  wish  to  be 
back  before  eleven.  It  takes  a  wiser  head  than  mine  to 
unravel  the  riddle ;  but  I  am  satisfied  he  knows  what  he  is 
about,-  for  to  keep  that  wife  of  his  out  of  mischief,  he  must 
be  a  very  smart  man." 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  La  Monte  and  Viola  soon  made  their  appear- 
ance, and  entered  the  carriage.  "  Jim,  this  is  rather  a  dark 
night ;  you  will  please  drive  with  great  caution.  Keep  your 
eyes  on  the  horses  and  road,"  commanded  Mr.  La  Monte. 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  will  be  careful,"  was  the  respectful  response  of 
the  coachman. 

Viola  was  very  sad,  and  suppressed  a  deep  sigh  when  she 
looked  out  from  the  carriage  window.  She  beheld  Otto  gal- 
loping toward  her  house,  and  would  gladly  have  given  up 
all  her  jewels,  which  she  so  highly  valued,  if  she  only  could 
meet  him  in  the  cozy  room  of  Mrs.  Wehlen.  Mr.  La  Monte, 
too,  observed  the  young  man  riding  toward  his  house,  and 
thought  how  well  he  had  guessed  that  the  young  man  would 
come  and  pop  to  him  the  great  question.  "  How  disappointed 
Otto  will  be,"  said  he  to  himself,  "when  he  does  not  find  us 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  2C5 

at  home  ;  but  so  it  is,  when  one  has  neglected,  from  the  very 
beginning,  to  educate  his  wife,  and  impress  in  her  mind  that 
by  her  marriage  the  husband's  welfare  must  be  her  first 
consideration,  and  that  his  word  must  be  respected  by  her 
as  a  law  of  '  Mount  Sinai.'  " 

"Who  is  riding  there?"  said  Mrs.  La  Monte,  observing 
Otto. 

"I- guess  one  of  those  mounted  policemen  whom  our 
municipal  government  has  lately  appointed  for  the  suburbs. 
It  was  a  measure  advocated  by  your  father  on  my  sugges- 
tion. I  have  drawn  up  the  resolutions  for  him,"  said  Mr. 
La  Monte. 

"My  father  has  influence  enough  to  carry  any  measures 
in  the  council.  If  he  only  would  have  turned  his  attention 
to  politics,  he,  no  doubt,  would  have  become  the  President  of 
the  United  States.  How  well  it  would  have  sounded,  '  Presi- 
dent Bottwell!'  But  I  think  you  are  mistaken,"  continued 
Mrs.  La  Monte,  "  the  rider  I  have  seen  looked  to  me  like  that 
hateful  son  of  that  hateful  Mrs.  Wehlen." 

At  these  words,  Miss  Viola  broke  out  in  tears,  such  aa 
angels  weep,  for  they  were  her  first  tears  of  deep  sympathy 
for  her  future  husband,  and  she  exclaimed  :  "  Mother,  your 
disrespect  and  contempt  toward  my  dear,  beloved  Otto  and 
his  mother  is  breaking  my  heart;  it  is  killing  me!" 

"  I  don't  care  if  it  does.  You  had  no  business  to  fall  in 
love  and  engage  yourself  to  that  young  man,  who  is  the  son 
of  a  cook,  when  your  cousins,  the  Counts  Louis  and  Murat 
are  expected  every  minute  ;  and  one  of  them  will,  no  doubt, 
lay  his  heart,  his  title,  and  his  fortune  at  your  feet,  and  you 
would  become  the  Countess  La  Monte,  and  perhaps  even  the 
first  Lady  of  Honor  at  the  great  Court  of  France.  Foolish 
girl!  you  have  thrown  away  your  fortune,  and  disappointed 
your  mother  in  her  fondest  expectations  !  Viola,  once  I  have 
loved  you  as  my  dearest  child,  for  you  were  more  like  me 
than  the  rest ;  but  now,  as  the  bride  of  Otto  Wehlen,  I  hate 
the  very  sight  of  you !"  and  the  angry  mother  lifted  up  her 
hand  to  strike  the  once  beloved  and  now  despised  Viola. 


266  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

"Pa!"  exclaimed  the  unhappy  daughter,  "please  order 
Jim  to  stop,  and  let  me  out.  Ma  hates  the  very  sight  of  me. 
I  wish  to  wander  in  the  wide  world,  so  that  she  might  never 
see  me  again !"  taking  a  hold  of  the  door  knob,  and  trying 
to  open  the  door. 

Mr,  La  Monte  quickly  removed  Yiola's  hand,  and  ordered: 
"Jim,  drive  as  fast  as  you  can  to  my  bank;  be  quick,  my 
lad." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  was  Jim's  prompt  response,  who  said  to  himself : 
"  Is  that  man  crazy,  or  his  wife,  or  his  daughter,  or  am 
I  crazy  ?  Orders  and  counter-orders  !  But  I  must  stick  to 
my  mother's  advice,  who  said,  'Jim  to  retain  a  place  long 
and  with  good  wages,  a  servant  must  promptly  obey  and  ask 
no  questions,  for  those  who  possess  too  much  wealth,  are  al- 
ways somewhat  cracked  in  their  notions.'"  Jim  let  the 
spirited  horses  feel  the  whip,  and  drove  on  with  such  a  speed 
as  to  give  the  occupants  of  the  carriage  no  chance  to  talk, 
the  carriage  jolting  from  one  side  to  the  other,  and  compell- 
ing them  to  keep  their  position  on  the  seats. 

The  bank  was  reached,  but  Mrs.  La  Monte  declined  to 
leave  the  carriage.  She  wanted  to  visit  her  father;  she  had 
no  business  in  the  bank.  "  Theodosia,  be  reasonable,"  pleaded 
the  husband.  "  You  and  Viola  are  much  excited,  and  can  not, 
therefore,  call  on  your  sick  father,  beside  that,  I  want  to 
show  you  something  that  is  worth  a  million  of  dollars,  and 
which,  if  nothing  happens,  will  soon  belong  to  the  family." 

"  Then  we  will  be  millionaires  ?"  asked  Mrs.  La  Morite, 
quickly. 

"Of  course  we  will,"  answered  Mr.  La  Monte,  reaching 
forth  his  hand  and  assisting  his  wife  and  daughter  from  the 
carriage.  He  opened  the  bank,  locking  it  quickly  after  him. 

"I  am  afraid,"  said  Mrs.  La  Monte,  "it  is  so  dark  and 
dreary  here." 

"  Do  not  be  afraid.  I  will  soon  light  the  gas,"  remarked 
the  husband,  looking  for  a  match. 

Mrs.  La  Monte  said  to  herself:  "At  last,  I  see  a  ray  of 
hope,  for  as  soon  as  my  husband  is  worth  a  million  of  dol- 


A   TALE    OP   REAL   LIFE.  2G7 

lars,  he  must  move  his  whole  family  to  Europe  and  assume 
the  title  of  his  family,  and  become  Count  John  James  La 
Monte,  and  I  the  Countess  La  Monte.  Let,  now,  Viola 
marry  that  Otto  Wehlen,  if  she  pleases  ;  but  she  will  not  move 
to  France  and  share  in  our  glory,  a  million  of  dollars.  What 
a  pile  of  money  !  and  what  can  we  not  purchase  for  it !" 

As  soon  as  Mr.  La  Monte  had  lit  the  gas,  his  wife  ex- 
claimed :  "  Please,  be  quick  and  show  me  that  which  is  worth 
a  million  dollars  and  will  soon  belong  to  the  family." 

"  Not  yet.  There  is  a  story  connected  with  it,  which  I 
must  first  relate  ;  please,  be  seated,'1  rolling  a  comfortable  arm- 
chair to  his  wife,  and  one  to  Viola. 

"Now  listen,"  and  he  commenced:  "About  twenty-two 
years  ago,  there  was  a  young  man,  of  good  address,  and 
of  good  habits,  of  an  excellent  character  and  high  as- 
pirations, but  of  humble  birth.  He  mingled  in  the  best 
society,  and  saw  a  young  lady,  who  belonged  to  what  is 
called  a  first-class  family.  She  was  handsome,  and  could  sing 
and  play  on  the  piano  beautifully.  She  conversed  charmingly, 
and  her  whole  bearing  was  graceful  and  highly  accom- 
plished. The  young  man  thought:  'that  young  lady? 
so  beautiful  and  so  angel-like  in  appearance,  will  make  a 
good  wife.'  He  courted  her,  proposed  and  was  accepted,  mar- 
ried and  went  to  housekeeping,  but  lo  !  that  accomplished 
young  lady  was  entirely  unacquainted  with  the  duties  of 
housekeeping.  She  did  not  know  how  to  sweep  a  room,  how 
to  make  up  a  bed,  how  to  kindle  a  fire,  how  to  prepare  the 
simplest  meal.  They  hired  servants,  but  the  angel-like  young 
lady  had  a  bad  temper.  She  scolded  the  servants  from  morn- 
ing until  night.  The  servants  left.  None  would  stay  where 
the  lady  of  the  house  was  unreasonable  and  quarrelsome. 
Daily  they  had  to  advertise  for  servants,  and  daily  they 
changed.  At  last  none  would  answer  the  advertisement,  and 
the  house  of  the  young  couple  was  one  of  disorder  and  dis- 
comfort, dissatisfaction  and  discontentment.  Finally  the 
young  wife  proposed  that  she  would  return  to  her  parents, 
and  if  the  husband  declined  to  make  his  home  also  with  her 


2G8  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

parents,  he  could  go  his  own  way;  she  had  enough  of  mar- 
ried life. 

"  The  young  husband  reasoned  with  his  wife,  and  performed 
himself  the  greatest  part  of  housework.  Soon  time  passed 
on,  and  the  young  wife  became  a  mother  of  a  beautiful 
daughter.  The  father  was  in  hope  that  this  young  plant 
would  awaken  in  the  young  mother's  breast  a  new  energy, 
an  energy  to  be  more  self-relying,  to  be  less  vain,  and  to  do  the 
household  duties  with  a  good  will ;  but  alas  !  that  accom- 
plished young  lady  had  a  mother  who,  for  vanity's  sake  and 
downright  laziness,  disliked  to  have  children,  and  managed  to 
have  only  one,  which  one  she  instructed  to  be  sure  and  have 
not  more  than  one  child,  because  to  have  more  children 
deprive  the  mothers  of  their  beauty,  and  beside  children 
were  such  a  bother,  such  an  expense,  that  one  were  compelled 
to  have  more  servants,  with  whom  it  were  so  difficult  to  get 
along  ;  that  one  might  as  well  have  no  children  and  thus  save 
the  money  and  spend  it  on  their  own  dresses  and  jewels. 
The  young  wife  well  remembered  her  mother's  advice  and 
instructions,  and  treated  the  young  infant  with  cruel  neglect. 
The  young  husband  thought  different;  his  heart  would  have 
broken  if  that  little  innocent  being  would  have  died,  for  he 
looked  upon  the  life  of  that  infant  as  the  only  salvation  of 
his  married  life,  as  the  only  hope  of  getting  along  with  the 
young  wife,  the  former  modern,  accomplished  young  lady,  who 
as  a  wife,  his  helpmate,  a  mother,  could  not  and  would  not 
cook  even  a  cup  of  tea  for  the  babe,  when  suffering  with 
colic. 

Mrs.  La  Monte  buried  her  face  in  her  hands,  and  closed 
her  eyes.  She  saw  her  own  past  before  her  vision.  The 
husband  proceeded  : 

"  To  save  the  life  of  the  baby  a  good  housekeeper  was  in- 
dispensable. The  young  husband,  almost  despairing,  hunted 
for  such  a  housekeeper,  and  at  last  found  one,  a  poor  widow- 
woman  with  a  little  boy.  He  made  a  bargain  with  her  that 
if  she  would  take  good  care  of  his  baby  and  his  household 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  269 

affairs,  he  would  take  good  care  of  her  boy  and  try  to  raise 
him  to  become  a  useful  and  honorable  citizen." 

"  Please,  stop,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  La  Monte,  "  I  did  not  come 
here  to  hear  a  story." 

"  It  is  not  a  story,  it  is  a  Tale  of  Real  Life,"  answered  the 
husband,  promptly.  "  That  poor  woman  helped  to  raise 
three  children,  who  are  now  their  parents'  hope  and  pride." 

"And  what  became  of  the  boy  whom  the  young  husband 
took  charge  of  ?  "  asked  Yiola,  greatly  interested. 

"  That  boy  is  now  a  young  man  of  great  ability  and  exem- 
plary habits,  and  who  has  invested  his  savings  in  unim- 
proved real  estate,  which,  through  most  fortunate  circum- 
stances, is  now  worth  a  million  of  dollars." 

"  And  what  is  that  young  man's  name?"  asked  Yiola,  ner- 
vously. 

"  Otto  Wehlen,"  answered  the  father. 

"Otto,  my  Otto,  a  millionaire  I"  exclaimed  Viola,  rushing 
toward  her  father,  and  repeating  the  question. 

"  Yes,  my  dear  daughter,  it  is  your  betrothed.  I  most  heart- 
ily congratulate  you,"  ejaculated  the  father,  true  happiness 
beaming  on  his  face. 

"  Otto  Wehlen,  the  son  of  Mrs.  "Wehlen,  a  millionaire!"  ex- 
claimed Mrs.  La  Monte.  "  And  I,  a  born  Bottwell,  the  wife 
of  a  husband  who  is  only  worth  two  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars! There  is  no  justice!  there  is  no  God!  I  wish  I  had 
never  been  born !  I  wish  I  would  die,  to  be  spared  to  see 
my  daughter  married  to  the  son  of  a  cook,  and  that  cook 
now  to  live  in  grander  splendor  than  myself!  Death,  come 
and  end  my  misery,"  moaned  the  personification  of  vanity. 

The  husband  looked  at  his  lamenting  wife,  and  was,  for 
the  moment,  but  only  for  the  moment,  at  loss  how  to  pacify 
and  win  her  consent  to  Viola's  engagement  with  Otto  "Weh- 
len, and,  above  all,  to  induce  his  wife  to  treat  the  mother  of 
their  future  son-in-law,  if  even  only  with  common  courtesy. 

He  opened  the  great  bank  safe,  and  brought  forth  a  large 
map  of  the  contemplated  new  park,  spread  it  out  on  the 
table,  and  said : 


270  CUE  PROSPECTS. 

"Mrs.  La  Monte  and  Viola,  please  step  here,  and  I  will 
show  you  the  million  of  dollars  I  have  referred  to." 

Yiola  approached  the  table,  not  so  Mrs.  La  Monte.  The 
husband  continued : 

"  To-morrow  we  may  expect  the  noble  Count  Louis  and 
Count  Murat  La  Monte." 

At  these  words  the  wife  looked  up.  Mr.  La  Monte  noticed 
it,  and  continued  : 

"  "When  the  noble  Counts  arrive,  we  will  have  to  show  them 
our  real  estate  possessions,  which,  unfortunately,  are  not 
large,  as  mine  and  your  father  Bottwell's  wealth  mostly  con- 
sists of  United  States  bonds  (a  perfect  godsend  for  those  who 
do  not  like  to  pay  taxes).  The  noble  Counts,  being  accus- 
tomed to  see  large  land  estates,  will  consider  us  rather  poor. 
But,  fortunately,  Otto's  wealth  consists  of  land  property,  be- 
ing not  less  than  twenty  acres  near  the  new  park,  and  as  we 
may  now  consider  Otto  as  one  of  the  family,  his  property 
may  be  looked  upon  as  our  own,  and  you  had  better,  dear," 
addressing  his  wife  directly,  "come  and  take  a  look  at  this 
map,  so  that  when  you  take  a  ride  in  your  grand  new  car- 
riage with  the  noble  Counts,  you  may  point  out  to  them  these 
lots  which  belong  to  your  future  son-in-law.  Please,  come. 
It  is  very  important,  for  the  day  after  Viola's  marriage,  I 
will  resign  my  position  as  cashier  in  the  bank,  in  favor  of 
Otto,  and  become  the  president  of  the  bank.  I  will  then  ask 
a  leave  of  absence,  and  Mrs.  President  La  Monte,  with  her 
husband,  will  go  to  Europe  to  visit  the  Count  Pierre  La 
Monte  and  his  family.  But  in  order  to  be  well  received,  we 
must  now  show  to  his  sons  that  we  are  among  the  million- 
aires of  our  native  land." 

This  was  said  with  so  much  eloquence  that  it  produced  a 
magical  effect  on  Mrs.  La  Monte.  She  approached  the  table  , 
to  look  on  the  map,  in  order  to  be  well  informed  where  the  ; 
lots  were  situated  belonging  to  her  future  son-in-law.  j 

Mr.  La  Monte  took  special  pains  to  point  out  the  great 
advantages  of  this  property,  arid  according  to  his  calculation 
it  was  worth  even  more  than  a  million  of  dollars.  "  But,"  said 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  271 

he,  "  what  pleases  me  most  about  this  piece  of  property  is 
that  it  lies  at  a  point  where  every  one  who  enters  the  Park 
will  see  it,  and  every  one  will  say,  '  that  valuable  piece  of  prop- 
erty belongs  to  Cashier  Wehlen,  who  married  a  daughter  of 
President  La  Monte,  a  grandchild  of  the  Bottwells.'  " 

Mrs.  La  Monte  was  so  delighted  with  the  pretty  picture 
which  the  eloquence  of  her  husband  drew  before  her,  that  she 
even  kissed  him,  exclaiming  enthusiastically,  "  I  feel  so  happy, 
because  every  one  will  envy  us,"  and  addressing  her  daugh- 
ter, she  said,  "  Viola,  you  will  now  be  four  times  richer  than 
your  poor  mother." 

"You  are  mistaken,"  remarked  her  husband,  "you  must 
remember  that  your  parents  are  worth  over  half  a  million  of 
dollars,  of  which  you  are  the  sole  heir.  With  that  and  my 
property,  you  are  as  rich  as  Yiola  will  be.  Let  me  also 
remark  that  when  we  are  in  France,  and  like  it  there,  we 
may  make  that  country  our  future  home,  and  to  please  you, 
my  dear,  I  will  assume  the  titles  of  my  ancestors." 

"Then  I  will  be  the  Countess  La  Monte  !"  exclaimed  the 
wife,  joyfully. 

"  You  shall  be  called  Countess  La  Monte,  and  I  hope  to 
introduce  you  at  the  Royal  Court  of  Franco  with  all  the  dig- 
nity due  " — he  had  it  on  his  lips  to  say  "  due  to  an  American 
citizen,"  but  American  citizenship  was  at  a  discount  with  the 
born  Bottwell,  of  whom,  alas !  we  have  a  great  many  in  this 
country.  So  the  husband  said,  "  due  to  your  exalted  position 
as  a  noble  Countess  of  France." 

Mrs.  La  Monte  was  now  very  happy.  Her  husband  gladly 
observed  it,  and  said,  "  In  order  to  carry  out  my  plans,  the 
marriage  between  Otto  and  Yiola  is  indispensable.  Do  you 
now,  with  your  own  free  will,  consent  to  that  union  ?" 

"  I  do,"  answered  the  wife,  promptly. 

At  these  words,  Yiola  embraced  her  mother,  covered  her 
with  ardent  kisses,  and  thanked  her. 

"  If  you  do  consent  to  this  marriage,  and  do  not  wish  that 
Otto  should  break  his  partial  engagement,  you  must  make 


272  CUE  PROSPECTS. 

up  with  Mrs.  Wehlen.  Do  as  Viola,  did  ;  beg  her  forgiveness, 
for  you  have  acted  wrong  toward  her." 

"  Could  you  not  do  it  for  me? "  asked  Mrs.  La  Monte. 

"  No,  I  can  not ;  you  must  do  it,  and  secure  her  forgive- 
ness and  friendship  before  she  sees  her  son.  I  will  assist 
you,  however,  if  you  so  desire." 

"Then  I  will  see  Mrs.  Wehlen  to-night.  You  will  go  with 
me  to  her  room,  and  put  in  a  good  word  for  me,  if  neces- 
sary." 

"  I  will,"  said  the  husband,  looking  at  the  clock.  , "  Why," 
said  he,  "  it  is  nearly  a  quarter  to  eleven ;  let  us  now  drive 
home  ;  it  is  too  late  to  visit  the  grandfather."  He  folded  the 
map,  placed  it  in  the  safe,  and  locked  the  same.  Thoy  soon 
entered  the  carriage,  and  Mr.  La  Monte  ordered  the  coach- 
man to  drive  briskly  home. 

With  what  different  feelings  did  the  occupants  of  that  car- 
riage now  drive  home!  Each  of  them  was  hopeful  and 
happy,  made  so  through  the  intellectual  power,  patience  and 
masterly  tact  of  the  husband  and  father.  And  you,  my 
noble  reader,  if  you  sincerely  wish  to  become  successful  in 
your  honest  calling,  you  must  persevere  in  your  endeavors 
to  obtain  intellectual  power.  Plenty  of  patience  and  mas- 
teily  tact,  coupled  with  good  health  and  good  habits,  is  the 
surest  road  to  success. 

When  they  reached  their  home,  Eosalind  told  her  father 
that  soon  after  he  left  she  went  to  Mrs.  Wehlen,  whom  she 
found  weeping  and  crying  as  she  had  never  seen  her  before. 
"  She  lamented  most  piteously,"  said  the  daughter,  "  prayed 
to  God  and  implored  that  the  spirit  of  her  departed  husband 
might  look  down  upon  her  in  this  trying  hour,  and  pray  for 
her,  to  give  her  strength  and  wisdom  to  act  righteously 
toward  you,  her  benefactor.  I  have  tried  my  very  best  to 
pacify  her,  but  could  not  succeed.  All  at  once  we  heard 
some  one  approaching  the  house  on  horseback,  and  I  ex- 
claimed, '  Mrs.  Wehlen,  your  son  has  come  ;  please  stop  cry- 
ing, or  he  will  feel  so  unhappy.'  '  Yes,'  answered  she,  quickly 
drying  her  tears,  '  he  must  not  know  what  I  suffer.  I  suffer 


A  TALE   OF    REAL   LIFE.  273 

gladly  for  him.'  Otto  soon  entered  the  room  and  kissed  his 
mother.  He  noticed  her  depressed  state  of  mind  and  her 
tears,  and  questioned  her  with  great  anxiety  as  to  the  cause 
of  her  unhappiness,  but  she  said  that  her  tears  were  tears  of 
joy;  that  she  gave  thanksgiving  to  God  for  having  restored 
her  to  health,  and  so  permit  her  to  live  and  see  -her  son 
praised  and  honored  ;  that  she  felt  very  proud  because  Otto 
treated  her  with  so  much  respect  and  attention.  She  also  told 
him  how  Viola,  without  taking  off  her  riding  suit,  came  at 
once  to  her  with  the  compliments  of  Otto,  and  how  Viola  had 
praised  him,  and  that  all  this  made  her  feel  so  happy." 

"How  long  did  Otto  remain  with  his  mother?"  asked  the 
father,  anxiously. 

"  About  half  an  hour  ;  his  mother  requested  him  to  go  in 
the  reception-room,  or  parlor,  and  play  to  me.  She  desired 
to  be  alone,  as  she  felt  tired  and  wished  to  sleep.  I  then 
went  in  the  parlor  and  we  played  and  sung  until  near  a 
quarter  to  eleven,  when  he  left  for  his  home." 

"  You  are  a  noble  girl,  Eosalind.  By-the-bye,  this  after- 
noon I  received  a  letter  for  you.  See  what  confidence  1  have 
in  your  good  sense  ;  I  did  not  even  break  the  seal ;  here  is 
the  letta*  just  as  I  received  it." 

Eosalind  looked^atthe  address,  and  recognizing  at  once  the 
hand-writing  of  her  dear  beloved  Charles  Hunting,  she  bid 
her  parents  good-night,  quickly  went  to  her  room  and  read 
Charles'  letter,  which  we  have  laid  before  our  reader  in  a 
previous  chapter. 

Eosalind  read  the  letter  once,  twice,  thrice,  and  each 
word  seemed  to  give  her  new  life  and  hope.  She  kissed  the 
precious  letter,  and  falling  on  her  knees  she  prayed  from  the 
inmost  recesses  of  her  soul : 

"  God,  thou  Heavenly  Father,  I  thank  thee  that  thou  hast 
heard  my  prayers  and  granted  my  supplications,  that  my 
dearly  beloved  Charles  should  turn  from  the  path  of  ruin  to 
the  path  of  virtue,  usefulness,  and  righteousness,  and  become 
a  worthy  son  under  thy  holy  vision ;  an  honorable  man  who 
lives  up  to  thy  gracious  precepts,  a  lord  of  earthly  creation, 


274  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

who  subdues  the  wilderness  and  makes  the  earth  bloom  like 
a  paradise,  who  acknowledges  thee,  thou  great  Omnipotent 
and  merciful  Ruler,  as  the  God  of  all  creation,  the  Father  of 
mankind,  the  Giver  of  all  that  is  good." 

Tears,  those  tears  that  heal  and  make  us  hopeful,  fell  fast 
down  the  maiden's  cheek,  who  continued  with  the  same  fer- 
vency : 

"  I  thank  thee,  my  gracious  Father,  for  the  great  goodness 
that  thou  hast  bestowed  on  men,  to  be  hopeful,  to  long  to 
pray  to  thee,  and  for  thy  heavenly  mercy;  that  thou  hearest 
their  prayers,  if  they  are  sincere  and  come  from  a  pure  heart, 
which  bears  no  malice  toward  the  rest  of  thy  children,  but 
which  aims  to  do  unto  others  as  they  want  to  be  done  by.  I 
thank  thee  God,  my  Eock,  my  Hope,  for  the  happiness  here, 
and  the  happiness  hereafter,  when  my  soul  will  return  to 
thee,  the  Giver.  I  thank  thee,  Holy  One,  for  the  bliss  I  en- 
joyed to  read  this  letter  from  him  I  love,  and  to  whom  I  am 
betrothed  in  my  heart.  Thou  Sovereign  of  the  Universe,  be 
with  him  in  his  resolve  to  become  a  nature's  nobleman,  who 
endeavors  to  act  God-like." 

The  door  opened  and  Viola  entered.  Seeing  her  sister  on 
her  knees  praying,  she  approached  her  and  falling  herself, 
too,  on  her  knees  at  her  sister's  side,  she  said  :"I,  too,  feel 
like  praying;  but  I  can  not  pray.  I  have  never  tried  to 
pray;  my  mother  always  discouraged  me  to  pray.  She  said 
only  poor  people  and  fools  pray.  You,  Rosalind,  have  not 
listened  to  her  advice,  but  allowed  yourself  to  be  instructed 
by  that  good  Mrs.  Wehlen,  and  now  you  can  pray  so  beauti- 
fully, and  it  seems  to  do  you  so  much  good.  You  look  hap- 
pier and  handsomer  after  you  have  prayed." 

Rosalind  arose,  and  drying  her  tears,  she  said,  "It  is  a 
heavenly  bliss  to  pray.  When  I  pray,  I  feel  myself  nearer 
to  the  Throne  of  Grace.  I  behold,  in  my  vision,  the  great 
Jehovah,  surrounded  by  thousands  of  seraphim  who  sing 
the  sweetest,  the  most  heavenly  melodies.  The  soul  bows  in 
humility  before  the  King  of  all  the  kings,  before  the  Cause 
of  all  the  causes,  and  I  return  to  myself  inspired  with  the 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  275 

love  for  God,  with  the  love  for  my  fellow-creatures,  and  the 
heavenly  light,  I  have  seen,  rests  on  my  features.  That 
celestial  luster  makes  me  look  beautiful  without  powder  and 
paint,"  said  Eosalind,  looking  like  a  priestess  of  old. 

"  You  look  more  like  an  angel  than  a  girl  of  twenty  ;  the 
very  rustle  of  your  dress  seems  to  be  full  of  dignity  and  resig- 
nation," remarked  Viola. 

"  I  feel  that  God  has  created  me  for  a  great  purpose,  which 
is  nothing  less  than  to  make  man  happy.  Woman  is,  there- 
fore, God's  appointed  guardian  of  man's  happiness — woman 
is  God's  earthly  angel,  and,  as  God's  angel,  she  must  be  pure, 
good,  dignified,  forbearing,  forgiving;  and  being  all  this,  she 
is  fully  able  to  fulfill  her  mission,  for  which  the  All-Wise  has 
created  her,"  was  the  prompt  reply  of  Eosalind.  "  But  why 
do  you  remain  on  your  knees,  you  do  not  pray ;  and  why  do 
you  wish  to  pray,  Yiola,  whom  I  have  never  seen  praying 
before?" 

"  I  am  so  happy,  and  I  wish  to  thank  God  for  my  happi- 
ness, and  don't  know  how,"  answered  Viola. 

"  Poor  sister,  I  pity  you,  that  you  do  not  know  how  to  give 
thanksgiving  to  our  Heavenly  Father ;  you  must  request 
good  Mrs.  Wehlen  to  teach  you  how  to  pray ;  she  can  pray 
more  fervently  than  our  gay-looking,  new  minister,  who 
mounts  the  pulpit  with  the  air  of  a  star  actor,  and  reads  and 
preaches  like  an  uneducated  back -woodsman.  No  wonder 
that  half  the  pews  are  empty,  and  the  occupants  of  the  other 
half  become  so  little  interested  by  the  senseless  and  bad  de- 
livery of  the  officiating  minister,  that  they  get  drowsy,  and 
some  of  the  worshipers  take  their  comfortable  nap,  from 
which  they  are  aroused  only  by  the  welcome  benediction  of 
the  fashionable  minister,"  said  Eosalind,  earnestly. 

"  You  are  a  good  critic,  Eosalind;  if  it  were  not  for  the 
fashion  to  be  seen  at  church,  to  admire  and  criticise  our 
dresses,  I  would  just  as  well  stay  at  home,  for  I  never  remem- 
ber anything  of  the  prayers  and  sermon;  they  seem  so  dry," 
remarked  Viola. 

It  is  the  fault  of  the  preacher,  who  does  not  select  the  right 


276  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

text;  be  ought  to  draw  a  picture  of '  Real  Life,1  show  before  his 
hearers  their  own  daily  acts,  so  full  of  sins,  the  consequences 
of  which  are  immorality,  misery,  and  nnhappiness,  filling 
the  land  with  crying  shame  and  crime.  Why  do  our  min- 
isters devote  so  much  time  and  thought  to  save,  as  they  say, 
the  heathens  in  foreign  lands,  when  right  in  their  midst, 
around  them,  they  have  a  large  field  of  great  sinners  to  work 
upon  !"  exclaimed  the  pious  Eosalind,  with  great  energy. 

"What  denomination  do  you  refer  to?  I  hope  that  you  do 
not  mean" — 

"I  mean,"  interrupted  Eosalind,  "every  denomination,  be 
they  Jews  or  Christians,  of  any  sect.  The  ministers,  with  a 
very  few  exceptions,  do  not  do  their  duty  toward  their  con- 
gregations; they  most  shamefully  quarrel  among  themselves, 
about  tenets,  doctrines,  and  dogmas,  and  in  consequence  of 
all  this  controversy,  the  flock  intrusted  to  their  spiritual  care, 
becomes  demoralized,  and  society  loses  the  benefit  and  great 
advantage  of  true,  enlightened  religious  instruction,  which 
arouses  the  better  qualities  of  men,  which  softens  the  heart 
and  brings  us  nearer  to  Heaven."  The  noble  maiden  paused, 
a  heavy  sigh  escaped  her  breast,  when  she  continued,  in  a 
deep,  mournful  tone :  "  Where  are  those  happy  days,  when 
the  people  had  pastors  who  preached  and  practiced  humility 
and  piety f  But,  alas!  now  our  pastors  and  our  places  of 
worship  are  mere  bazars  of  fashion,  where  not  the  seed  of 
humility  and  piety,  but  the  seed  of  vanity  is  sown,  and 
takes  such  a  deep  root,  that  it  actually  threatens  to  destroy 
all  that  is  good  and  noble  in  man.  Through  vanity,  thousands 
of  mothers  neglect  their  children,  who  die  an  early  death,  or 
become  brutes  covered  in  fine  clothes — who  have  not  received 
those  great  lessons  to  love  God  and  their  fellow-men — and 
those  refined  manners,  which  only  a  good  mother  can  impress 
on  the  mind  of  the  child.  Through  vanity,  thousands  of 
households  are  made  miserable,  and  whole  families  rushed  to 
ruin.  To  gratify  vanity  thousands  of  men  become  dishonest, 
and  thousands  of  women  sacrifice,  on  the  altar  of  vanity, 
their  priceless  possession,  '  Holy  Virtue ;'  and  what  is  worse, 


A   TALE   OP    REAL    LIFE.  277 

their  number  is  daily  increasing,  and  our  modern  civilization 
has  baptized  this  crime  '  The  Social  Evil'  This  is  all  it  can 
do;  it  has  not  the  moral  courage  to  do  more;  modern  society  is 
too  busy  making  money,  for  it  takes  a  great  deal  of  money 
to  live  up  to  fashions  and  gratify  vanity" 

Eosalind  again  paused,  heaved  another  sigh,  and  continued, 
in  a  still  more  earnest  and  solemn  tone :  "  Vanity,  tho.u  faith- 
ful ally  of  the  evil  spirit,  thou  hast  well  succeeded  of  late, 
and  carriest  thy  banner  high,  for  thy  followers  are  countless 
legions.  Thou  hast  enlisted  in  thy  ranks  a  large  number  of 
two  of  the  most  powerful  representatives  on  earth — '  women 
and  priests.'  The  one  aims  to  shine  and  outshine ;  the 
other  grasps,  with  a  firm  grip,  for  political  power;  and  con- 
sequently the  first  neglects  her  womanly  duty,  and  the  other 
the  celestial  calling,  and  society  at  large  is  looking  on,  gaping 
in  idleness. 

"  Charles  Hunting,  my  dear,  beloved  Charles,  bad  as  you 
are,  or  have  been,  I  forgive  you,  for  you  are  the  victim  of 
vanity;  you  are  the  victim  of  society's  criminal  neglect. 
Thy  vain  mother  took  not  the  time  to  warn  you  against 
temptation,  and  society;  our  fashionable  society,  our  advanced 
civilized  society,  kindly  permits  temptations,  in  their  worst 
forms,  to  meet  you  at  every  corner — yes,  even  opposite  the 
very  college — to  allure  the  sons,  the  future  hope  of  our 
country,  to  ruin  and  shame !  Dear  Charles,  you  are  the 
victim  of  vanity;  you  are  the  victim  of  our  modern  civiliza- 
tion. May  my  pure  and  holy  love  for  you  redeem  you,  and 
rescue  you  from  an  ignoble  destruction;  and  may  some 
powerful  pen  — " 

"  Eosalind,"  interrupted  Yiola,  "  please  stop  with  your 
remarks,  or  I  will  surely  get  the  headache." 

"  You  here,  Yiola !  I  did  not  notice  you ;  I  was  speaking 
to  myself,"  exclaimed  Rosalind,  and  all  of  a  sudden  grasping 
Viola's  arm,  she  asked :  "  Did  you  hear  all  I  said  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  did,"  answered  the  sister,  frankly. 

"  Then  you  know  now  that  I  love  Charles  Hunting  ?" 

"  That  explains  to  me  your  sadness,  and  your  beautiful 


278  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

prayers,  and  the  good  understanding  that  existed  between 
you  and  the  good  Mrs.  Wehlen." 

"  Viola,  it  is  a  riddle  to  me  why  you  now  call  Mrs.  Wehlen 
'the  good  Mrs.  Wehlen,'  and  treat  her  so  kindly,  whom  you 
formerly  so  much  disliked  and  ill-treated." 

"  It  is  no  riddle;  I  love  her  son,  and  from  the  day  I  began 
to  love  Otto,  I  also  began  to  like  his  mother,  who,  in  a  few 
weeks,  will  be  my  mother-in-law,  for  I  am  the  bride  of  Otto 
Wehlen,"  said  Viola,  blushingly. 

"  I  congratulate  you,  sister,  for  Otto  Wehlen  is  a  noble 
young  man ;  but  I  pity  him,  that  he  has  chosen  you  as  his 
wife,  for  you  are  too  vain  to  make  him  a  good  wife,  and  your 
vanity  will,  in  a  few  short  weeks,  let  him  feel  that  he  is  the 
son  of  a  cook,  and  you  a  born  La  Monte,  a  grandchild  of 
Bottwell,"  said  Eosalind,  earnestly. 

Viola  became  livid  with  anger,  and  said :  "  Eosalind,  you 
ought  to  know  me  better  than  to  think  that  I  will  be  so  silly, 
and  treat  my  husband  in  such  a  manner!" 

"  Viola,  I  know  you,  and  as  your  oldest  sister,  have  a  right 
to  say  to  you  that  you  are  a  very  proud  and  vain  girl — one 
that  likes  to  make  a  grand  show,  and  prides  herself  on  her 
birth  and  station.  Otto  being  only  a  bank  teller,  unable  to 
gratify  your  vanity,  you  will  get  angry,  and  lash  him  with 
your  tongue,  as  you  have  often  done  to  the  good  Mrs. 
Wehlen." 

"  Eosalind,  you  are  mistaken ;  Otto  is  not  a  mere  bank 
teller  ;  he  is  worth  a  million  of  dollars." 

"  Otto  Wehlen  worth  a  million  of  dollars !"  exclaimed 
Eosalind,  greatly  surprised. 

While  Viola  relates  to  her  sister  all  that  has  passed 
between  herself  and  parents  in  the  carriage,  and  in  the 
bank,  the  patient  reader  will  visit  the  good  Mrs.  Wehlen. 

Poor  woman !  After  Mrs.  La  Monte  had  left  the  room, 
she  picked  up  the  poker,  arid  was  thinking  what  a  terrible 
effect  a  blow  from  such  a  weapon,  in  the  hands  of  an  enraged 
woman,  would  have  had  on  her.  "  She  would  have  murdered 
me,"  she  said,  "if  it  would  not  have  been  for  the  timely 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  279 

interference  of  Yiola — and  Yiola  my  future  daughter-in-law! 
Is  this  a  dream,  or  reality?  Yiola,  the  proud  Yiola,  the 
daughter  of  the  proud  Mrs.  John  James  La  Monte,  to  be  the 
bride  of  my  son,  Otto  Wehlen !  Truly,  the  ways  of  God  are 
wondrous.  But  shall  I  consider  it  a  blessing  or  a  curse?  If 
it  comes  from  the  hand  of  God,  it  is  a  blessing ;  but  to  stay 
now  any  longer  in  this  house  is  impossible. 

"  Mrs.  La  Monte  has  called  me  an  old  witch,  and  will  treat 
me  as  a  witch.  She  would  burn  me  alive,  if  she  could,  sooner 
than  to  become  related  to  me  by  the  marriage  of  my  son  to 
her  pet  daughter,  Yiola.  I  must  leave  this  house,  for  my  life 
is  now  in  danger;  but  what  an  effect  will  my  leaving  the 
house  have  on  my  dear  son's  prospect  in  life  ?  "Will  he  not 
lose  his  position  as  a  teller  in  the  bank?  will  it  not  interfere 
with  his  marriage  to  Yiola?  and  to  break  his  engagement 
with  the  girl  he  loves  may  make  him  miserable  for  life  ;  for 
Yiola  is  beautiful,  and  of  fine  manners,  if  she  wishes  to  be, 
and  young  men,  in  spite  of  all,  will  love  beautiful  and  grace- 
ful maidens. 

"ISTo,  I  can  not  leave  this  house  yet;  my  dear  son's  welfare 
demands  that  I  should  stay  and  suffer ;  but,  0  God !  how 
long  yet!"  exclaimed  she,  weepingly.  The  good  mother 
wept  as  she  never  had  wept  before. 

Rosalind,  the  noble  Rosalind  entered,  and  seeing  her 
confidential  friend  weeping  and  lamenting,  inquired  the 
cause  of  her  distress ;  but  Mrs.  Wehlen  could  or  would  not 
tell;  and  as  Eosalind,  too,  was  very  unhappy,  on  account  of 
the  prolonged  silence  of  Charles  Hunting,  she  felt  like  weep- 
ing, and  none. being  at  home  except  her  brother,  she  could 
now  cry  to  her  heart's  content.  Only  the  arrival  of  Otto 
made  them  cease  crying,  for  both  were  anxious  to  suppress 
their  grief  and  appear  cheerful.  But  notwithstanding  all  this 
Otto  noticed  that  both  had  been  weeping.  He  questioned 
his  mother,  but  she  avoided  the  question  as  well  as  she  could, 
and  Otto  as  a  good  son  and  real  gentleman  did  not  press  his 
question.  "But  why  should  Eosalind  cry?  What  should 
trouble  her  young  and  beautiful  mind?  Did  she  know  of 


280  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

his  engagement  to  her  sister,  and  did  she  perhaps  envy  her? 
!No ;  she  did  not  know  of  the  engagement  or  else  she  would 
have  congratulated  him.  Something  else  must  trouble  the 
young  lady."  All  this  passed  the  thoughts  of  young  Wehlen 
and  he  was  very  anxious  to  see  Rosalind  leave  the  room,  for 
he  wished  to  inform  his  mother  of  the  important  step  he  had 
taken ;  but  Eosalind  was  an  obedient  daughter.  She  re- 
membered her  father's  instructions  and  stood  guard,  like 
one  of  Napoleon's  body  guards;  Mrs.  Wehlen  also  wished  to 
congratulate  her  son,  but  thought  she  had  better  not  in  the 
presence  of  Rosalind.  Both  mother  and  son  waited  that  Rosa- 
lind should  leave  them  to  themselves,  but  Rosalind  kept  on 
conversing  about  this  and  that,  and  Mrs,  Wehlen  readily 
guessed  that  Rosalind  remained  in  her  room  by  direct  in- 
stiuc.ion  of  her  father,  for  she  knew  Mr.  La  Monte's  ways. 
"Perhaps  it  is  better,"  said  she  to  herself,  "not  to  converse 
with  Otto  about  his  engagement.  I  am  too  excited,  let  me 
await  events  and  become  calm.  Whatever  Mr.  La  Monte's 
faults  are,  one  thing  is  sure,  he  always  manages  for  the  best 
of  all."  Reflecting  on  this  she  soon  became  satisfied  in  her 
mind,  and  requested  Otto  to  go  in  the  reception  room  or 
parlor  and  play  to  Miss  Rosalind,  as  she  felt  fatigued  and 
wished  to  sleep. 

She  was  left  alone,  and  exhausted  nature  kindly  assisted 
her  to  a  refreshing  repose.  All  of  a  sudden  she  started  up, 
greatly  alarmed,  for  the  dim  light  of  the  room  revealed  to 
her  the  form  of  Mrs.  La  Monte,  in  her  night  clothes.  "O, 
G-od  I  she  is  coming  to  murder  me  while  I  sleep  !"  She  was 
on  the  point  of  giving  the  alarm  and  to  cry  for  help,  when 
she  saw,  to  her  great,  relief,  Mr.  La  Monte,  accompanying  his 
wife.  She  felt  safe,  for  he  would  not  allow  that  a  hair  of  her 
gray  head  should  be  touched. 

"Mrs.  Wehlen,  are  you  awake?"  asked  Mrs.  La  Monte,  in 
her  kindest  tone. 

"I  am,  madam,  and  at  your  service,"  answered  Mrs.  Weh- 
len, promptly,  greatly  surprised  at  the.  tone  of  her  mistress. 

Mrs.  La  Monte  now  stepped  to  the  bed,  and  said  in  the 


A  TALE   OF   KEAL   LIFE.  281 

same  kind  tone:  "Lay  down  Mrs.  "Wehlen,  and  let  me  cover 
you ;  John,  please  turn  the  gas  to  a  brighter  flame."  The 
husband  promptly  did  aS  requested. 

"Mrs.  Wehlen,"  continued  Mrs.  La  Monte,  in  a  still  kinder 
tone  and  manner,  "  I  come  to  beg  your  pardon  and  forgive- 
ness for  all  I  have  said  and  done  to  you^  not  only  this  even- 
ing but  through  the  many  years."  She  could  say  no  more,  a 
flood  of  tears  burst  forth  from  her  eyes — tears  flowing  in 
itnploration  of  forgiveness — tears  as  we  never  expected  to 
see  flow  from  the  eyes  of  Mrs.  John  James  La  Monte,  the 
born  Bottwell. 

Mrs.  Wehlen  was  gueatly  surprised  to  see  Mrs.  La  Monte, 
the  proud  Mrs.  La  Monte,  the  born  Bottwell,  the  worshiper 
of  vanity,  asking  her,  the  despised  Mrs.  Wehlen,  pardon  and 
forgiveness,  and  with  such  tears  ! 

"  I  must  be  dreaming,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Wehlen  to  herself, 
confused  and  bewildered  by  what  she  saw;  but  Mrs.  La 
Monte  now  grasped  Mrs.  Wehlen's  hand  and  covering  the 
same  with  kisses,  she  exclaimed:  "You  good  and  noble 
woman,  pardon  and  forgive  me,  I  implore  you,  for  I  have 
sinned  against  you,  I  have  sinned  against  my  sex,  I  have 
sinned  against  God,  for  having  been  so  base,  so  cruel  toward 
you,  you  who  have  raised  my  children  to  man  and  woman- 
hood, and  have  so  faithfully  supplied  me  and  mine  with 
thousands  of  comforts  which  I  have  never  recognized  until 
now;"  another  flood  of  repenting  tears  was  flowing  down  the 
now  pale  cheeks  of  the  proud  Mrs.  La  Monte,  who  again  im- 
plored :  "  Forgive  me,  pardon  me,  Mrs.  Wehlen,  forgive  me 
or  my  heart  will  break." 

Mrs.  Wehlen  made  no  reply.  She  withdrew  her  hands 
from  Mrs.  La  Monte's  grasp,  and  clasping  them  firmly  to- 
gether with  her  gray  hair  which  had  become  loose,  hanging 
in  thick  profusion  and  covering  her  bare  skeleton-like 
shoulders  and  neck,  and  with  her  eyes  uplifted,  she  prayed 
in  a  clear  but  sad  voice: 

"Thou  God,  my  Heavenly  Father,  I  thank  Thee  that 
Thou  hast  in  Thy  merciful  kindness  spared  my  life  to  enjoy 


282  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

this  great  favor  of  having  my  good  intentions  and  patient 
labor  fully  acknowledged  by  my  mistress.  Thou  great  Kuler 
and  just  Judge,  who  knowest  the  secrets  of  every  heart, 
Thou  art  my  witness  that  I  forgive  my  mistress  for  every 
wrong  she  has  done  to  me.  I  forgive  her  with  the  same 
readiness  and  purity  as  I  hope  that  my  sins  and  shortcom- 
ings will  be  forgiven  by  the  Great  Spirit  who  makes  and 
unmakes  all  that  exists,  by  one  command. 

"  Thou  great  omnipotent  and  everlasting  God,  I  pray  to 
Thee,  calm  the  stricken  conscience  of  my  repenting  mistress ; 
let  that  heavenly  light,  'goodness  and  peace,'  shine  within 
her,  that  she  may  become  a  worthy  shepherd  on  earth,  one 
who  does  not  worship  before  the  shrine  of  vanity,  but  before 
Thy  heavenly  shrine,  one  who  supplicates  Thy  favor  and 
Thy  grace,  and  endeavors  to  be  pure  before  Thee.  Thou 
all-seeing  Power,  grant  her  and  the  rest  of  womanhood  and 
mankind  that  great  bliss  which  comes  from  the  very  throne 
of  Thy  Grace,  not  to  be  occupied  so  much  with  vanity  and 
dust  of  the  earth,  but  to  look  for  real  happiness  heavenward, 
and  to  become  inspired  with  Thy  Goodness,  with  Thy  Wis- 
dom, and  with  the  love  of  justice.  Amen." 

Mr.  John  James  La  Monte  heartily  joined  to  this  amen. 

When  Mrs.  Wehlen  had  concluded  her  eloquent  prayer — 
eloquent  because  it  was  poured  out  from  her  heart — Mrs. 
La  Monte  embraced  and  kissed  her,  saying :  "  I  thank  you 
for  your  noble  forgiveness,  and  your  noble  prayer  in  my 
behalf.  Henceforth  we  will  be  like  two  mothers,  and  we  are 
now  two  mothers  related  by  the  dearest  family  ties,  for  you 
have  given  me  your  noble  son,  and  I  give  you  my  dearest 
daughter,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  La  Monte,  with  great  affection. 

"  It  is  a  great  happiness  and  a  great  honor  to  me,"  an- 
swered Mrs.  Wehlen,  greatly  moved. 

"  You  will  catch  cold,  dear,"  said  Mr.  La  Monte  to  his 
wife,  turning  the  gas  lower.  "We  will  all  now  be  happy; 
but  let  us  retire;  it  is  past  midnight,"  and  bidding  the  good 
Mrs.  Wehlen  an  affectionate  good-night,  both  husband  and 
wife  left  for  their  room.  Mr.  La  Monte  was  saying  to  him- 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  283 

self:  "I  have  made  pretty  good  use  of  to-night  in  referring 
to  Mrs.  Plato  Emerson  and  her  dying  Archy,  when  implor- 
ing for  Mrs.  Wehlen's  help.  There  is  nothing  like  knowing 
how  to  put  everything  to  a  good  advantage.  I  declare  it 
served  my  purpose  well  to-night.  Yiola  is  now  sure  of  hav- 
ing Otto  as  her  husband.  He  will  make  a  capital  husband, 
a  capital  son-in-law,  and  his  capital  of  one  million  of  dollars 
I  can  reckon  as  belonging  to  my  own  estate ;  yet  it  is  strange 
that  Otto  does  not  realize  it  himself,  to  be  worth  a  million 
of  dollars.  But  what  pleases  me  most  is  to  have  seen  my 
wife  for  once  shed  repentful  tears,  and  I  have  now  greater 
hopes  than  ever  that  she  will  finally  become  a  good  wife;  it 
is  getting  time  she  should,  for  I  am  entirely  broken  down  in 
my  efforts  to  manage  my  domestic  affairs  in  harmony  and 
contentment." 

On  reaching  the  room  he  sank  in  the  nearest  chair,  say- 
ing, "  Theodosia,  please  hand  me  a  bowl,  of  water  and  some 
of  my  handkerchiefs,"  his  voice  growing  fainter  and  his  face 
very  pale. 

"  What  is  the  matter  ? "  asked  the  wife,  with  unusual 
attention. 

"My  old  trouble,  palpitation  of  the  heart,"  answered  the 
hushand.  He  undressed,  and  put  the  wet  handkerchiefs  on 
his  left  breast,  moistening  them  with  cold  water  in  quick 
succession. 

"  Can  I  assist  you?  "  asked  Mrs.  La  Monte,  affectionately. 

Mr.  La  Monte  was  not  accustomed  to  be  asked  by  his  wife 
whether  she  could  do  anything  for  him,  and  was,  therefore, 
greatly  surprised  at  even  such  a  simple  question. 

"  No,  I  thank  you.  Please  retire.  Cold  water  will  gradu- 
ally calm  the  main  organ,  and  as  soon  as  I  feel  better  I,  too, 
will  retire." 

The  wife  did  as  requested,  and  said  :  "  John,  I  have  not 
felt  so  happy  for  years  as  I  do  to-night.  It  must  be  because 
I  am  now  at  peace  with  Mrs.  Wehlen.  And  her  prayer,  oh  ! 
how  beautifully  she  prayed,  and  how  pious  she  looked  !  I, 
too,  will  try  to  pray,  and  become  a  good  woman."  Bidding 


284  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

her  husband  "good  night,"  she  retired,  and  soon  fell  asleep. 

Mrs.  La  Monte  slept ;  a  deep  silence  reigned  in  the  house. 
All  the  members  of  the  family  were  asleep,  except  the  hus- 
band, who  continued  to  apply  cold  water  to  his  palpitating 
heart.  Tears  stood  in  his  eyes,  and  a  heavy  sigh  escaped 
his  manly  bosom  when  he  reviewed  this  day's  work.  Noth- 
ing unusual  had  happened  while  performing  his  duties  in 
the  bank ;  but  he  thought  of  the  struggle  with  his  wife  this 
afternoon,  and  the  means  he  had  to  resort  to,  to  make  his 
wife  speak  to  him.  He  thought  of  his  horseback  ride ;  his 
conversation  with  Yiola  about  the  first-class  funerals ;  how 
he  managed  to  give  the  young  couple  a  chance  to  come  to  a 
good  understanding ;  the  terrible  scene  in  Mrs.  Wehlen's 
room  ;  his  masterly  tact  to  make  his  wife  leave  that  room  ; 
his  ordering  the  carriage;  his  ringing  the  bell,  and  making 
believe  that  there  was  a  messenger  at  the  door  ;  the  ride  in 
the  carriage ;  the  scene  at  the  bank  ;  the  closing  scene  with 
Mrs.  Wehlen. 

"  O,  God !  "  exclaimed  he,  "  what  means  have  I  to  employ 
in  order  to  have  quietness  and  harmony  in  my  house,  and  to 
prevent  accidents,  and  even  destruction  !  No  wonder  my 
heart  is  diseased,  and  I  may  expect  every  moment  the  mes- 
senger of  Death." 

He  paused,  and  a  tear  dropped  into  the  washbowl  before 
him.  "Yes,"  said  he,  "this  is  a  tear  of  sadness,  and  of  op- 
pression. I  suffer  since  the  first  month  of  my  married  life, 
and  none  know  of  it  but  myself,  my  God,  and  perhaps  the 
departed  spirit  of  my  good  mother.  Who  would  have 
thought  of  this  life  of  misery,  on  beholding  Miss  Theodosia 
Bottwell,  in  her  superb  wedding  attire,  standing  with  me 
before  the  officiating  minister,  admired  by  the  whole  congre- 
gation, and  myself  envied  by  every  young  man,  as  the  hus- 
band of  Miss  Theodosia  Bottwell,  the  accomplished  young 
lady,  and  sole  heiress  to  a  large  estate  ?  It  was  considered 
a  great  prize,  and  I  thought  I  had  secured  complete  and 
everlasting  happiness;  but  alas!  the  great  vanity  which  Mrs. 
Bottwell  has  infused  in  the  very  nature  of  her  daughter,  the 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  285 

great  defects  in  her  education,  of  being  domestically  helpless, 
made  my  married  life  a  life  of  misery,  a  life  of  constant 
struggle,  to  keep  matters  at  least  in  statu  quo;  and  with  all 
my  energy  and  ready  mother-wit,  I  could  not  succeed  in 
making  my  wife  a  good  wife,  a  wife  as  I  hoped  Miss  Theodo- 
sia  Bottwell  would  be." 

He  paused  for  a  moment,  wetted  the  handkerchief  again, 
and  after  applying  it  to  the  still  palpitating  heart,  he  con- 
tinued :  "  But  have  I  resorted  to  the  right  means  to  cure 
my  wife  from  her  great  vanity  !  Have  I  not  rather  encour- 
aged it  by  my  own  struggle  and  strife  to  become  still 
wealthier — the  only  aim  which  I  have  followed  during  my 
life  ?  " 

And  indeed  this  had  been  his  only  aim,  for  he  had  taken 
no  interest  whatever  in  the  public  welfare.  He  would  not 
Berve  as  a  member  of  the  school  board,  because  there  was 
no  money  in  it ;  he  would  not  become  a  trustee  of  his  con- 
gregation for  the  same  reason,  and  besides  it  required  time 
and  attention  ;  let  others  do  it.  His  wife  did  act  and  think 
as  he  did,  with  the  only  difference,  that  she  tried  to  spend 
wHt  he  made. 

The  consequence  was  that  the  finer  feelings,  the  feelings 
of  charity  and  kindness  which  God  has  planted  in  every  hu- 
man breast,  slumbered  within  Mr.  and  Mrs.  La  Monte.  Noth- 
ing but  the  eloquent  appeals  of  the  religious  instructor  could 
have  aroused  them,  but  the  religious  instructor  of  their 
fashionable  church  was  also  a  fashionable  priest;  none  of 
your  old-fashioned  pastors,  who  preached  a  sermon  of  humility 
and  piety,  and  who  spoke  their  minds  plainly  to  their  con- 
gregation, and  who  made  them  quake — no,  the  fashionable 
minister  had  a  fashionable  audience  sitting  before  him,  and 
they  might  take  offense  if  he  should  preach  them  a  sermon 
of  solid  truth,  showing  their  shortcomings ;  their  great  vanity, 
and  where  it  leads  to ;  their  uncharitableness,  their  decep- 
tion, and  the  thousand  falsehoods  practiced  during  the  week. 
The  fashionable  minister,  even  if  he  had  the  ability  of 
preaching  a  sermon  like  the  old-fashioned  pastors,  who  would 


286  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

made  their  hearers  quake,  lacked  the  moral  courage  to  do  so, 
for  he  was  a  fashionable  minister,  preaching  before  a  fashion- 
able audience,  full  of  vanity,  and  that  vanity  he  duly  flat- 
tered. He  told  them  in  the  best  language  he  could  com- 
mand, that  they  were  the  best  people,  and  particularly  his 
congregation— they  were  the  perfection  of  humanity — he 
gave  them  a  graceful  benediction,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
James  La  Monte  went  home  from  church,  their  charity  and 
kindness  not  awakened  by  their  religious  instructor.  But  was 
not  Mr.  La  Monte  to  blame?  Why  did  he  not  take  a  lively 
interest  in  his  congregational  affairs,  become  a  trustee,  get 
well  acquainted  with  the  man  who  is  his  and  his  family's 
spiritual  teacher,  and  sound  him  to  see  whether  he  be  worthy 
of  such  a  position?  Why  did  ho  not  give  some  practical 
hints  to  the  minister,  as  to  the  suitable  sermon  for  the  people  ? 
But  no,  Mr.  La  Monte  did  not  take  all  this  trouble — and 
there  are  thousands  like  him — and  so  our  religious  instruc- 
tors become  vain,  careless  of  their  exalted  position  and  de- 
generate ;  and  this  is  one  of  the  evils  of  our  day,  of  which 
Grandmother  Bottwell  and  Mrs.  La  Monte,  the  born  Bott- 
well,  are  the  fruit  and  manifest  result. 

With  these,  or  similar  thoughts  Mr.  La  Monte  retired.  He 
felt  better  and  prayed  to  God  to  assist  him  in  his  efforts  to 
make  a  better  woman  of  his  wife ;  to  prolong  his  life  until 
he  would  see  his  children  well  settled,  and  then  to  gather  him 
to  his  fathers,  but  not  suddenly,  as  those  affected  with  heart 
disease  generally  die.  With  that  prayer  still  on  his  lips  he 
fell  asleep. 

The  most  inspiring  and  the  most  invigorating  hours  of  our 
earthly  existence  are,  unquestionably,  the  hours  of  morning, 
especially  the  spring  months  of  April  and  May,  when  nature 
'  is  clad  in  its  brightest  colors  ;  the  earth  is  one  vast  field  of; 
sweet  perfume,  the  rising  sun  illuminating  as  if  by  magic,' 
the  firmament  and  the  fields  in  their  different  hues,  while  I 
myriads  of  birds  sing  their  morning  praises  before  the  Great 
Creator  who  created  everything  perfect  and  for  a  useful  pur- 
pose, which  men  in  their  dark  ignorance  can  not  comprehend. 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  287 

To  rise  early  and  walk  forth  to  observe  this  morning  grand- 
eur, is  one  of  the  blessings  of  life.  The  enjoyment  is  still 
hightened  if  one  is  fortunate  enough  to  possess  a  spirited 
horse  and  to  ride  three  hours  before  breakfast,  and  inhale  the 
fragrance  of  field  and  meadow — to  allow  one's  senses  to  par- 
take freely  of  the  feast  of  natural  poetry  that  meets  us 
wherever  we  turn.  Under  these  beautiful  influences,  the 
chest  enlarges,  the  lungs  breathe  freer  and  healthier,  one's 
eyes  see  clearer,  one's  ears  hear  better,  one's  reasoning  pow- 
ers becomes  stronger,  for  we  can  not  help  to  reflect  on  what 
we  see ;  we  can  not  help  but  to  recognize  God  as  the  creator 
of  the  incomprehensible  creation,  and  as  the  Father  of  man- 
kind, and  with  this  recognition  impressed  on  the  tablet  of 
our  hearts,  we  must  return  from  our  morning  walk  or  ride, 
healthier  and  better  men  and  women.  "We  perform  our  daily 
duties  better  than  if  we  had  slept  later  and  missed  the  soul 
inspiring  morning  scene. 

There  is  great  wisdom  and  truth  in  the  German  saying : 

Die  Morgen  Stunde 
Hat  Gold  in  Munde. 

"The  morning  hour  has  gold  in  its  mouth." 

The  author  of  this  work  knows  from  personal  experience 
that  whatever  success  he  has  achieved  in  life,  he  can  directly 
trace  to  the  habit  of  rising  early  in  the  morning,  to  which  he 
was  encouraged  by  his  mother. 

[God  bless  my  mother  for  the  noble  example  which  she  has 
impressed  on  her  son  in  early  childhood,  an  impression  which 
only  death  can  efface !] 

This  habit  of  early  rising  enables  the  writer  of  Our  Pros- 
pects, A  Tale  of  Real  Life,to  attend  to  his  extensive  business 
throughout  the  day,  and  after  business  hours  to  take  bodily 
and  intellectual  exercise,  of  which  the  pages  of  this  book  are 
a  representation,  and  the  author  sincerely  hopes  that  the 
reader  will  find  this  work  instructive  and  entertaining. 
.  After  the  eventful  night  in  the  house  of  John  James  La 
Monte,  they  overslept  themselves,  and  failed  to  see  the 


288  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

rising  sun  in  all  its  glory.  Mrs.  La  Monte  was  the  first 
to  awake  that  morning.  She  thought  she  heard  a  vehicle 
coming  toward  the  house,  and  partly  opened  the  window- 
shutter.  There  she  beheld  an  old  dilapidated  omnibus, 
drawn  by  a  pair  of  horses,  with  hardly  strength  enough  to 
stand  on  their  legs,  still  less  to  draw  the  old  omnibus,  the 
driver,  two  passengers,  and  a  couple  of  trunks.  Who  is 
coming  there?"  said  Mrs.  La  Monte  to  herself.  "1  hope 
not  some  poor  distant  relations  of  my  husband's  family." 
The  old  horses  at  last  reached  the  front  of  the  house,  and 
two  foreign,  suspicious,  sickly-looking  individuals  stepped 
from  the  omnibus,  trying  in  vain  to  straighten  their  thin, 
stork-like  legs,  which  seemed  as  though  they  were  suffering 
from  rheumatism.  Mrs.  La  Monte  observed  all  this,  and  ex- 
claimed :  "  What  morbid-looking  fellows  they  are !  The  poet 
Thomson  could  well  say : 

'  Of  morbid  hue  his  features  sunk  and  sad, 
His  hollow  eyne  shook  a  sickly  light.' 

"But  who  can  they  be?  Perhaps  the  servants  of  the 
noble  Counts.  I  would  not  have  such  dissipated -looking 
servants  about  my  establishment."  They  rang  the  bell ;  the 
chamber-maid  answered  the  call,  and  quickly  ran  to  Mrs. 
La  Monte's  bed-room,  announcing  that  there  were  two  gen- 
tlemen in  the  hall  who  spoke  French,  and  all  she  could  make 
out  was  Le  Comte  Louis  and  Murat  La  Monte. 

Mrs.  La  Monte  was  thunderstruck.  Are  those  the  Counts 
Louis  and  Murat  La  Monte  for  whose  reception  and  enter- 
tainment she  had  made  such  great  preparations?  Was  it  for 
those  God-forsaken  looking  men  that  she  had  exchanged  her 
good  old  family-carriage  and  harness,  and  paid  two  thousand 
dollars  to  boot?  Was  it  for  those  sad  and  forlorn-looking 
creatures  that  she  had  pressed  herself  in  a  No.  19  corset 
instead  of  No.  25,  in  order  to  appear  to  a  better  advantage? 
Was  it  to  those  men  who  evidently  had  left  their  marrow, 
their  manly  fire  and  energy,  on  the  field  of  dissipation,  to 
whom  she  wished  to  marry  her  beautiful  daughters  ?  and  all 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  289 

because  they  bore  the  noble  title  of  a  Count?  Her  idea  of  a 
Count  was  to  see  in  him  the  highest  type  of  manhood.  "My 
husband,  though  the  son  of  a  washwoman,  would  outweigh  a 
baker  dozen  of  such  Counts."  All  this  passed  through  her 
mind  when  the  chambermaid  announced  their  arrival.  Re- 
covering from  her  reflections  she  said  to  the  servant : 

"Please  show  them  into  the  reception -room,  but  say  noth- 
ing to  them." 

"  Of  course  not,"  remarked  the  servant.  "  I  can  not  speak 
French." 

Mrs.  La  Monte  turned  toward  her  husband,  but  seeing 
how  soundly  he  slept,  she  felt  it  a  sin  to  awake  him ;  be- 
sides, she  remembered  the  doctor's  instruction  that  when- 
ever Mr.  La  Monte  should  be  affected  with  the  -palpitation 
of  the  heart,  and  fall  asleep,  he  should,  under  no  considera- 
tion, be  disturbed,  else  it  might  prove  fatal. 

"  No,  I  will  not  awake  my  husband  for  the  sake  of  those 
Counts,  for  the  sight  of  them  convinces  me  more  than  ever 
that  my  husband  is  a  wise  man.  He  is  more  than  that,  he 
is  a  good  man,  though  he  is  only  the  son  of  a  washwoman. 
I  begin  to  feel  that  he  is  wiser  and  better  than  I  am,  al- 
though I  am  a  born  Bottwell.  If  I  think  of  his  story,  no,  not 
the  story,  but  'The  Tale  of  Real  Life'  as  related  by  him  in 
the  Bank,  he  is  a  better  husband  than  I  deserved,  for  I  have 
been  a  vain,  unreasonable  woman,  but  thank  God  I  see  now 
my  error.  That  wonderful  prayer  of  the  good  Mrs.  Wehlen 
had  such  great  effect  on  me ;  my  husband  muet  build  a  chapel 
on  the  grounds  and  I  and  Mrs.  Wehlen  will  go  there  daily 
to  pray.  It  will  be  so  odd  to  have  a  chapel  of  our  own, 
something  different  from  our  neighbors,  but  now,  what  shall 
I  do  with  those  Counts.  I  will  see  Rosalind,  she  learned 
French  in  order  to  be  able  to  speak  to  the  Counts  when  they 
came." 

Acting  upon  these  thoughts  she  went  to  Rosalind's  room 
and  found  her  daughter  lost  in  her  morning  devotion.  She 
waited  until  the  daughter  had  finished  her  prayer,  which 
she  poured  out  from  her  sad  but  hopeful  heart  with  such 


290  '     OUR  PROSPECTS. 

eloquence  that  even  her  mother  felt  moved.  She  kissed  her 
and  admired  her  praying,  saying:  "Now  I  comprehend  why 
you  are  better  liked  by  all  you  come  in  contact  with  than 
myself  or  Yiola.  It  is  your  beautiful  praying;  praying  as 
you  pray,  ennobles  you,  and  you  act  nobly.  That  Mrs.  Weh- 
len  has  indeed  been  good  to  my  children.  Eosalind,  the 
Counts  Louis  and  Murat  have  arrived ;  just  think,  they  came 
in  an  old  omnibus  'and  look  more  like  two  vagabonds  than 
Counts.  Your  father  is  still  asleep,  I  do  not  wish  to  awake 
him  for  he  had  again  the  palpitation  of  the  heart,  what  is  to 
be  done?" 

"You  alarm  me,  ma,"  exclaimed  Eosalind.  "Pa  had 
again  the  palpitation  of  the  heart.  Oh  ma!  we  must  not  be 
so  contrary  to  papa's  will,  else — " 

"Don't  say  anything,  I  know  what  you  mean,"  interrupted 
Mrs.  La  Monte,  "  but  the  Counts  are  in  the  reception  room. 
I  will  leave  them  to  your  care.  Is  Viola  yet  asleep  ?" 

"Yes,  ma,"  answered  Eosalind. 

"Let  her  sleep;  she  looks  much  handsomer  when  she  is 
allowed  to  sleep,  until  she  awakes  by  herself,"  remarked 
Mrs.  La  Monte. 

Eosalind  looked  at  her  mother,  as  much  as  to  say,  "  What 
do  you  mean  by  that?" 

"I  presume  you  are  aware  that  Yiola  is  engaged  to  Otto 
Wehlen,  Esquire,  who  is  worth  a  million  of  dollars." 

"I  am,"  answered  Eosalind,  "and  congratulate  you,  ma." 

"I  thank  you;  now  give  up  thinking  about  Charles  Hunt- 
ing and  try  to  win  the  youngest  of  the  cousins.  Count  Mu- 
rat seems  to  stand  yet  firm  on  his  legs  and  his  eyes  don't 
seem  so  hollow.  He  is  also  tall,  so  are  you,  and  you  will 
make  an  excellent  match  ;  you  will  be  the  Countess  Murat 
La  Monte,  the  gracious  and  kind  Countess ;  yes,  give  up 
thinking  of  that  good-for-nothing  Charles  Hunting,"  said 
the  mother,  earnestly. 

"Why,  ma,  you,  only  a  few  moments  ago,  said  they  look 
more  like  two  vagabonds  than  Counts,  and  now  you  recom- 
mend me  to  try  to  win  one  of  them  as  my  husband.  All  I 


•  A  TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  291 

will  do  is  to  honor  them  as  the  guests  of  my  dear  parents, 
not  because  they  are  Counts,  but  because  they  are  distant  re- 
lations and  guests.  Do  you  wish  that  they  shall  breakfast 
by  themselves,  or  shall  they  breakfast  with  the  family?"  re- 
marked Eosalind. 

"  I  leave  it  to  you,"  answered  the  mother.  "  I  will  now  go 
and  dress,  and  when  my  morning  toilet  is  finished,  I  will 
come  to  the  reception-room,  where  you  will  introduce  me  to 
them,  in  your  most  graceful  manner." 

Mrs.  La  Monte  left,  and  Eosalind  repaired  to  the  kitchen. 
She  gave  her  orders  for  breakfast  to  the  new  cook  in  so  kind 
a  manner,  that  she  at  once  secured  the  good  will  of  that  in- 
dispensable artist.  She  then  examined  the  rooms  which  were 
prepared  for  the  Counts  months  ago,  and  found  them  in 
good  order;  from  there  she  went  to  the  reception-room,  and 
received,  in' tolerable  good  French,  her  French  cousins,  in 
such  dignified  and  lady-like  manner  that  she  enraptured  both 
the  Counts.  They  exchanged  glances,  which  meant:  there  is 
a  prize. 

They  thanked  their  American  cousin  in  the  politest  French 
manner,  and  hoped  that  they  did  not  disturb  the  family  in 
their  morning  slumber. 

Eosalind  promptly  responded,  that  they  were  usually 
early  risers,  but  that  her  father  had  suddenly  felt  unwell,  and 
only  at  the  break  of  morning  fallen  asleep;  but  that  she  hoped 
he  would,  by  noon,  be  able  to  appear  before  them,  and  enjoy 
the  pleasure  of  receiving  them  as  his  distinguished  guests. 

Eosalind  rang  the  bell,  which  the  chambermaid  answered. 

"  Please  show  these  gentlemen  to  the  suit  of  rooms,  on  the 
third  floor ;  and  then  please  tell  Jim  to  meet  me  here." 
Turning  to  the  Counts,  she  said  : 

"  The  noble  Counts  will  have  their  apartments  shown  by 
this  maiden,  and  their  baggage  will  be  sent  to  their  rooms 
directly."  Bows  were  exchanged,  when  they  left  the  room. 

Eosalind  being  left  alone,  said  to  herself:  "So  these  are 
the  Counts,  on  whose  account  there  was  made  so  much  ado 
by  ma  and  Yiola  ?  I  must  admit  that  I  do  not  like  their 


292  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

looks ;  they  seem  to  have  a  way  to  converse  with  their  eyes. 
They  exchanged  glances,  and  did  not  King  Solomon,  the  wise, 
say :  '  Beware  of  those  that  blink  and  exchange  glances  with 
their  eyes?' " 

Jim  entered,  and  offered  his  services. 

"Jim,  parlez  vous  fran9ais?"  asked  Miss  Eosalind,  with  a 
smile. 

Oui,  Mademoiselle  Rosalind.  J'ai  ete  avec  une  famille  a 
New  Orleans,  ou  j'ai  appris  le  frangais,"  answered  Jim,  with 
a  pretty  good  French  accent. 

"  I  am  glad  you  do,  for  our  French  cousins,  the  Counts 
Louis  and  Murat  La  Monte  have  arrived.  Take  their  baggage 
to  their  rooms,  and  offer  them  your  services.  If  they  should 
occupy  too  much  of  your  time,  ask  my  pa  to  furnish  you  with 
an  assistant  in  the  stable ;  be  a  good  lad,  Jim ;  pa  will  give 
you  something  extra,  on  my  recommendation."  • 

"  Shall  I  put  on  my  black  pants  and  white  vest,  and  livery 
coat,  or  wait  on  them  in  my  working  clothes,"  asked  the 
coachman,  and  man  of  all  work. 

"In  your  clean  working  clothes,"  answered  Rosalind, 
promptly. 

The  Counts,  when  reaching  their  apartments,  were  much 
pleased  to  find  them  so  richly  furnished  and  supplied  with  all 
the  modern  improvements.  "  This  looks  like  comfort,"  ex- 
claimed Murat. 

Louis  made  no  reply  to  this  remark,  but  said :  "  Mademoi- 
selle Rosalind  is  the  prettiest  young  lady  I  ever  have  seen ; 
it  is  a  great  prize." 

"  It  is  a  rare  Rose,  and  one  that  is  not  to  be  plucked,"  an- 
swered Murat,  in  an  earnest  tone. 

Louis  looked  at  his  brother  quite  surprised,  that  he,  who 
usually  made  light  of  woman's  beauty  and  virtue,  a  matter 
of  easy  conquest  for  him,  and  which,  in  manj'-  cases,  was  no 
idle  boast,  should  use  such  words — "  a  rare  rose,  and  one 
that  is  not  to  be  plucked." 

Both  brothers  opened  their  trunks,  and  went  to  work  to  un- 
pack their  effects.  Jim  offered  his  services.  "  Bring  me  a 


* 

A  TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  293 

bowl  of  warm  water,"  was  the  first  request,  and  promptly 
executed  by  Jim. 

They  then  commenced  to  shave,  in  a  masterly  manner ; 
Murat  took  special  care  to  pomade  his  moustache  and  im- 
perial to  the  right  point.  His  head  of  hair  which  was  yet 
well  preserved  received  also  a  great  deal  of  attention.  He 
put  on  a  steel  breast-plate,  covered  with  linen,  which  served 
a  double  purpose,  to  enlarge  his  chest  and  to  serve  as  an 
protection  for  bullets,  and  also  the  stiletto  of  some  unerring 
hand  who  had  a  deep  wrong  to  avenge.  He  chose  his  best 
clothes,  which  were  made  so  as  to  cover  his  bodily  defects. 
When  his  toilet  was  finished  he  did  not  look  like  the  same 
man.  His  brother  Louis  also  tried  to  set  off  his  shriveled, 
ungainly  body  to  the  best  advantage,  but  he  did  not  rely  so 
much  on  his  steel  covered  breast-plate,  his  pantaloons,  vest 
and  coat,  stuffed  with  wadding.  He  relied  more  on  the 
power  of  his  eyes.  He  could  look  supplicating,  sad,  melan- 
choly, threatening,  imploring  —  with  a  telling  effect,  just 
as  his  interest  demanded. 

"Yes,"  said  he,  looking  at  his  tall,  well-formed,  good-look- 
ing brother ;  "  it  is  all  well  enough  as  far  as  it  goes,  to  be 
tall,  to  have  a  broad  chest,  even  if  a  part  of  it  is  artificial,  to 
fill  the  clothes  well,  and  stand  straight  and  firm  in  the  boots, 
but  all  this  will  not  achieve  as  much  as  the  eyes  and  the 
tongue;  the  eyes  are  the  orbs  to  entice,  and  the  tongue  to 
delure,  that  is  my  forte." 

He  took  from  his  breast  pocket  a  small  wallet  containing 
two  vials :  one  filled  with  the  deadliest  poison,  and  the  other 
with  a  liquid  for  the  purpose  of  drawing  the  skin  together. 
He  opened  the  latter,  took  a  small  piece  of  fine  linen  from 
the  same  wallet,  poured  some  of  the  liquid  on  it  and  very 
carefully  washed  his  eyelids  and  sockets.  He  kept  his  eyes 
closed  untill  the  liquid  dried,  which  seemed  to  burn  quite 
sharply,  but  the  man  who  wanted  his  orbs  to  shine  for  the 
purpose  of  destruction,  bore  bravely  under  the  pain.  After 
this  process  was  over  the  eyes  of  Count  Louis  La  Monte 
seemed  not  so  hollow.  He  practiced  a  little  before  the  mir- 


294  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

ror.  Now  he  looked  as  if  admiring,  now  sad,  now  with 
reverence  or  imploring  looks. 

We  leave  this  accomplished  fop  with  the  best  of  our  re- 
commendation to  fathers,  husbands  and  brothers,  and  if  they 
have  any  such  fops  visiting  their  homes,  under  any  preten- 
sions, let  them  be  shown,  in  the  politest  manner,  the  door, 
and  if  they  do  not  take  the  hint,  apply  some  harsher  meas- 
ures. They  must  use  this  precaution  to  save  the  good  name 
and  honor  of  their  daughters,  wives  and  sisters.  Precaution 
is,  therefore,  neces'sary  when  such  fops  are  about,  plotting 
to  rob  what  is  dearest  to  men,  the  good  name,  the  virtue, 
and -the  honor,  the  crown  of  the  family,  adorned  with  the 
only  real  jewels,  VIRTUE  and  HONOR. 

Mrs.  La  Monte  was  in  a  great  dilemma  as  to  which  corset 
she  should  wear— No.  19,  or  the  No.  25?  The  Counts,  did 
not  impress  her  favorably  enough  to  squeeze  herself  into  a 
No.  19  corset  and  to  show  a  neat  waist.  She  therefore  de- 
cided to  wear  the  No.  25  corset,  but  all  her  best  dresses  were 
altered  to  the  size  to  suit  corset  No.  19.  Therefore,  if  she 
would  wear  the  No.  25  corset,  she  could  not  wear  her  fine 
and  elaborately  trimmed  dresses.  She  was  angry  with  her- 
self for  having  her  best  dresses  altered.  But  it  could  not  be 
helped  now,  she  had  to  decide  to  wear  her  common  dresses 
with  corset  No.  25;  "but  why  am  I  so  much  troubled  about 
it?  these  Counts  are,  after  all,  only  strangers  to  me;  it  is  to 
please  my  husband  only  I  ought  to  try  to  appear  beautiful 
and  not  so  much  before  other  men,  be  they  even  Counts," 
said  Mrs.  La  Monte,  earnestly,  to  herself  (sensible  at  last), 
and  with  these  words  she  quickly  laced  herself  in  the  No.  25 
corset,  which  was  tight  enough,  the  Lord  knows.  Then  she 
put  on  a  black  Alapaca  dress  of  the  finest  texture,  which  was 
trimmed  with  broad,  black  silk-velvet  ribbons.  Her  ears  and 
neck  were  ornamented  with  the  jet  ear-rings,  chain  and  the 
large  cross,  but  on  her  fingers  she  put  her  costly  diamond 
rings.  She  powdered  her  face  and  took  a  good  look  in  the 
mirror,  to  see  whether  a  wrinkle  had  appeared  on  her  brow 


A   TALE   OP   HEAL   LIFE.  295 

over  night,  and  had  the  satisfaction  to  see  neither  wrinkle 
nor  a  sign  of  it. 

Proudly  and  joyfully  she  exclaimed  :  "  My  brow  looks  as 
placid  as  only  a  brow  of  a  born  Bottwell  could  look  !  "  She 
felt  whether  her  ample  waterfall  was  well  pinned  to  her 
natural  hair,  and  finding  that  appendage  of  so  much  anxiety 
and  care  well  fastened,  she  was  about  to  ring  the  bell,  when 
she  noticed  Kosalind  stepping  in  on  tip-toe,  in  order  not  to 
awake  her  sleeping  father. 

"  Ma,"  whispered  she,  "  I  have  given  Winfred  his  'break- 
fast. He  now  wants  the  keys  of  the  safe,  to  send  them  to 
the  bank.  Please  let  me  have  them." 

"  Your  father  always  has  the  keys  under  his  pillow,  and 
the  moment  you  touch  them  he  will  spring  up,  bewildered 
and  frightened.  Let  them  do  without  opening  the  safe 
to-day,"  observed  Mrs.  La  Monte. 

Kosalind  looked  at  the  French  clock,  which  stood  on  the 
mantlepiece,  to  see  what  time  it  was;  and  observing  a  piece 
of  paper,  as  if  put  there  for  a  purpose,  she  quickly  took  it, 
and  read,  in  her  father's  handwriting  : 

"  You  will  find  the  keys  of  the  safe  in  one  of  my  boots. 
Please  do  not  awake  me  ;  and  see  that  there  is  quiet  in  the 
house,  for  I  need  undisturbed  repose." 

Kosalind  soon  found  the  keys,  and  motioned  to  her  mother 
to  come  with  her  in  the  hall.  "  Breakfast  is  ready,"  she 
said,  "  and  we  had  better  invite  the  Counts  to  the  table. 
Afterward  I  will  show  them  the  grounds,  and  in  the  mean- 
time pa  may  awake  and  take  charge  of  them." 

Mrs.  La  Monte  was  well  satisfied  with  her  toilet ;  she  also 
felt  somewhat  hungry,  and  was,  therefore,  anxious  to  be 
introduced  to  the  Counts  and  the  breakfast  table.  She  readily 
assented  to  Rosalind's  proposition,  who  sent  Jim  to  announce 
that  breakfast  would  be  served  as  soon  as  it  pleased  their 
Lordships. 

The  Counts  being  ready,  allowed  themselves  to  be  con- 


Z95  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

ducted  to  the  reception  room,  where  Rosalind  introduced  her 
mother  to  her  noble  cousins  with  all  her  native  grace.. 

Mrs.  La  Monte  was  happy,  for  she  made  her  often-practiced 
profound  bow  to  her  entire  satisfaction.  Count  Louis  seemed 
particularly  pleased  with  her  grand  bow.  They  repaired  to 
the  breakfast  table;  Mrs.  La  Monte  motioned  Rosalind  to 
take  her  seat  at  the  head  of  the  table;  opposite  her  sat  Count 
Murat,  while  Mrs.  La  Monte  took  her  seat  on  the  side  of  the 
table,  having  Count  Louis  as  her  vis-a-vis,-  who  was  much 
pleased,  and  glanced  at  Mrs.  La  Monte  with  admiring  eyes- 
The  born  Bottwell  felt  flattered,  and  did  not  discourage,  but 
returned  the  compliment,  and  said  to  herself:  "  What  artists 
the  French  are  in  dressing ;  they  do  not  look  like  the  same 
men.  Murat  is  the  handsomest,  but  too  much  reserved. 
Count  Louis  seems  to  be  the  politest  of  the  two." 

Count  Louis,  the  accomplished  libertine,  detected  at  a 
glance  that  Mrs.  La  Monte  was  an  extremely  vain  woman, 
and  all  he  needed  to  do  was  to  flatter  her  vanity — point  out 
some  imaginary  or  real  faults  of  her  husband  ;  assert  that 
she  was  born  for  something  better  than  to  love  and  bo  mar- 
ried to  such  a  man  ;  that  he  loved  her,  and  would  make  her 
happier — and  then,  gradually,  he  could  gain  such  an  influ- 
ence over  her  that  she  no  longer  would  belong  to  her  hus- 
band ;  that  she  would  no  longer  have  a  will  of  her  own ;  that 
he  would  own  her  body  and  whatever  soul  she  had.  Oh !  if 
he  only  could  speak  English,  or  she  understand  French!  it 
would  be  an  easy  task.  Thus  reasoned  the  Count  Louis  La 
Monte  when  he  accepted  from  Miss  Rosalind  a  cup  of  coffee, 
and  a  piece  of  toast  from  the  jeweled  hand  of  Mrs.  La  Monte, 
und  with  the  politest  manner  said,  in  French:  " ATerci, 
Madame!  "  accompanied  by  admiring  and  fascinating  looks, 
greatly  flattering  Mrs.  La  Monte,  the  born  Bottwell.  It  was 
well  for  her,  and  well  for  her  children,  that  she  had  a  hus- 
band who  knew  how  to  take  care  of  his  wife's  honor,  elso 
she  would  have  been  lost,  and  died  a  harlot. 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE. 


CHAPTEK    XIII. 

O,  for  my  sake  do  you  with  Fortune  chide; 

The  guilty  goddess  of  my  harmful  deeds, 

That  did  not  better  for  my  life  provide, 

Than  public  means,  which  public  manners  breeds. 

Thence  comes  it  that  my  name  receives  a  brand ; 

And  almost  thence  my  nature  is  subdued 

To  what  it  works  in,  like  the  dyer's  hand 

Pity  me,  then,  and  wish  I  were  renew'd; 

"Whilst,  like  a  willing  patient  I  will  drink 

Potions  of  eisel  'gainst  my  strong  infection ; 

No  bitterness  that  I  will  better  think, 

Nor  double  penance,  to  correct  correction. 
Pity  me,  then,  dear  friend,  and  I  assure  ye, 
Even  that  your  pity  is  enough  to  cure  me. 

— Shakespeare, 

THERE  was  great  rejoicing  at  the  house  of  Edward  Hunt- 
ing, Esq.,  for  he  was  able,  for  the  first  time  since  many  weeks 
to  leave  his  room,  and  drive  down  to  his  business,  accom- 
panied by  his  wife  and  his  three  daughters.  As  soon  as  they 
reached  the  office,  his  son  Charles  hastened  to  assist  his  pa- 
rents and  sisters  from  the  carriage.  All  the  employees 
greeted  their  employer  with  joy  and  great  reverence,  but 
none  more  than  Frank  Wilkins,  for  through  the  long  sick- 
ness of  his  benefactor  the  duties  of  the  chief  fell  on  his 
shoulders,  and  he  did  not  spare  himself,  to  do  the  very  best 
for  the  house  of  Edward  Hunting.  He  insisted  that  all  the 
clerks  in  the  house  should  make  it  their  highest  aim  to  fix 
the  old  slock  up,  and  sell  it  to  the  very  best  advantage,  and 
not  keep  on  buying  new  goods,  and  let  the  old  goods  lay, 
which  with  some  little  care  and  attention  could  be  sold  as 
well  as  new  goods.  He  illustrated  his  assertion  by  referring 
to  the  terrible  sand  storms  of  the  coast  of  Scotland. 

"The  weather  is  inviting,"  said  he ;  "a  man  goes  to  the 


298  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

beach  expecting  to  have  a  pleasant  walk,  and  to  enjoy  the 
sight  of  the  waters,  and  perhaps  to  see  some  sailing  vessels. 
All  at  once  a  breeze  sets  in,  which  gradually  becomes  a  wind, 
and  the  thin  fine  sand  begins  to  be  blown  up,  tossed  hither 
and  thither.  At  first.it  covers  only  the  boots  of  the  pedes- 
trian, then  it  reaches  his  ankles,  his  knees.  He  tries  to  get 
away  from  the  sandy  ground,  but  the  wind  blows  stronger, and 
the  sand  whirls  around  the  unfortunate  man ;  he  can  not 
make  another  step.  The  whirl  of  sand  buries  him  alive, 
only  a  few  hairs  sticking  out  of  it,  showing  after  the  storm 
is  over  that  a  man  was  buried  there."  And  he  continued  with 
all  the  eloquence  he  could  command  :  "  It  is  the  same  with  a 
merchant;  he  keeps  on  buying,  expecting  tt>  make  a  profit 
on  his  purchase :  from  each  purchase  there  remain  some 
goods,  and  thus  the  old  goods  accumulate.  At  first  it  don't 
amount  to  much,  it  reaches  only  up  to  the  boots,  then  to  the 
ankle,  and  soon  the  knee.  It  begins  to  obstruct  the  smooth 
movements  of  the  firm,  and  gradually  the  house  becomes 
swamped,  and  is  lost  out  of  sight,  like  the  man  caught  in  the 
sand  storm." 

Such  and  similar  illustrations  had  such  an  effect  that  the 
clerks  of  Edward  Hunting  did  try,  and  succeed  in  selling 
a  good  many  old  goods. 

Frank  Wilkins  was  also  vested  with  the  veto  power,  and 
nothing  could  be  purchased  except  signed  by  him.  This 
power  he  used  pretty  freely,  and  the  consequences  were  that 
when  Mr.  Edward  Hunting  came  to  the  store  he  found  the 
cleanest  stock  he  had  for  many  years  ;  the  same  was  the  case 
with  his  outstanding  debts.  Frank  Wilkins  fired  letter  after 
letter  to  the  debtors  of  the  firm,  and  succeeded  in  collecting 
many  an  old  account,  and  having  made  only  small  purchases, 
the  house  was  in  a  very  good  condition,  and  the  bookkeeper 
was  very  happy  that  he  could  show  such  a  good  statement. 
Mr.  Hunting  thanked  his  bookkeeper  for  the  excellent  man- 
agement of  the  business  during  his  sickness,  as  also  all  the 
clerks  and  the  rest  of  his  emploj'ees,  for  having  done  their 
duties  so  well.  Overbeck  and  Fastleben  stood  near  their 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  299 

convalescent  chief,  and  felt  that  Mr.  Hunting  did  not  treat 
them  with  his  former  urbanity. 

"  Mr.  Overbeck  and  Mr.  Fastleben,  I  would  request  you  to 
get  five  pocket  ledgers,  and  enter  alphabetically  what  we 
have  in  stock,  and  on  each  floor.  I  will  be  here  to-morrow 
at  ten  o'clock,  and  wish  to  have  the  memoranda  made  out  by 
that  time  ;"  and  turning  to  his  bookkeeper  he  said :  "  Frank, 
[  invite  you  to  take  tea  at  my  house  this  evening." 

The  bookkeeper  blushingly  accepted  the  invitation. 

"Charles,  before  you  come  home  this  evening,  please  buy 
the  five-o'clock  edition,  and  hand  it  to  me  as  soon  as  you 
reach  the  house." 

"  Yes,  father,"  answered  Charles,  "  Is  there  anything  else 
you  wish  mo  to  do?" 

"No,  I  thank  you,"  and  Mr.  Hunting  left  for  his  resi- 
dence. 

The  young  ladies  were  much  pleased  with  Mr.  Frank  Wil- 
kin's  invitation  to  tea.  "  They  would  have,  now,  a  musical 
entertainment  that  evening." 

Frank  Wilkins  was  also  much  pleased  to  spend  the  even- 
ing at  the  house  of  his  employer,  and  to  be  in  the  company  of 
Miss  Agnes,  for  he  could  not  deny  that  he  loved  Agnes. 
The  sparks  which  her  beautiful  eyes  had  tin-own  in  his  heart 
on  that  ever-memorable  New  Year's  eve,  he  was  not  able  to 
quench,  notwithstanding  that  he  reasoned  and  reflected  very 
calmly.  His  time,  like  that  of  Otto  Wehlen,  had  arrived,  not 
to  be  alone!  The  voice  of  nature  called,  loudly  :  "  Get  mar- 
ried, young  man  !  "  and  Agnes,  with  her  beautiful  eyes,  her 
beautiful  person,  her  graceful  manners,  was  continually 
before  his  vision.  Often  and  again  did  Frank  "Wilkins 
think,  if  Miss  Agnes  Hunting  would  only  have  been  raised 
less  extravagantly,  with  a  less  classical  andjnore  domestical 
education,  he  would  muster  courage,  propose  and  marry  her 
and  live  so  happy  in  each  other's  love ;  and  if  they  would 
be  blessed  with  babies,  their  happiness  would  be  complete. 
But  as  she  was  used  to  extravagance  and  idleness,  not  used 
to  domestic  work,  and  expecting  to  marry  a  grand  husband, 


300  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

with  a  grand  income,  Frank  "Wilkins  shrunk  back,  and 
decided  to  remain  a  bachelor,  plotting  along,  dissatisfied  with 
himself  and  his  doings. 

There  are  thousands  of  young  men  like  Frank  "Wilkins, 
who  would  like  to  marry,  and  who  have  seen  the  girl  they 
would  like  to  make  their  wife;  but  there  are  the  same  objec- 
tions which  kept  Frank  Wilkins  at  bay,  and  they  remain 
unmarried. 

Miss  Agnes,  too,  well  remembered  that  happy  New  Year's 
eve,  when  she  listened  to  Frank  Wilkins'  clear  views  on 
woman's  suffrage,  and  his  splendid  singing  and  playing. 
His  manly  bearing,  his  refined  language,  his  love  for  music, 
when  he  said  that  "  music  was  the  language  of  the  heart," 
stood  vividly  before  her,  and  her  own  heart  spoke  for  him 
the  language  of  a  holy,  devoted  love.  She  hoped  that  some- 
thing might  happen  to  improve  his  chances  in  life,  so  that 
he  might  become  her  husband,  with  prospects  to  support  her 
in  the  style  she  had  been  reared.  She  loved  him,  and  would 
have  gladly  become  his  wife,  but  then  there  were  the  calmer 
moments,  when  she  viewed  the  prospects  of  a  mai-riage  with 
him  from  a  business  point,  and  she  tried  to  suppress  her  love 
for  Frank  Wilkins,  on  account  of  his  small  income  and  poor 
prospects.  Something,  therefore,  had  to  happen  before  she 
could  marry  him. 

Almost  every  evening,  when  Miss  Agnes  entered  the  par- 
lor, and  noticed  the  hour  of  the  clock,  she  would  say  to  her- 
self :  "  This  was  the  hour  when  Mr.  Frank  Wilkins  was 
here  ;  on  that  chair  he  was  sitting,  and  oh  !  how  interesting 
was  his  conversation !  "  She  would  look  at  the  stars  and 
moon  and  feel  sad,  for  she  was  alone.  Her  heart  yearned  to 
be  with  Frank  Wilkins,  to  share  with  him  his  joys  and  his 
sorrows,  his  hopes  and  his  disappointments. 

"  Alone  I  I  am  always  alone  !  I  have  none  to  love  and 
none  to  caress,  who  appreciates  and  reciprocates  my  love," 
would  Agnes  exclaim,  in  those  moments  which  reminded  her 
of  Frank  Wilkin's  visit.  "  The  birds,  those  natural  musicians 
of  creation,  will  not  sing  so  beautifully  if  they  are  alone.  They, 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  301 

too,  cleanse  themselves  with,  their  peaks,  gather  food,  build 
comfortable  nests,  and  mate,  passing  their  existence  lovingly, 
and  give  daily  praise  to  the  Most  High.  Why  should  I,  a 
young  woman,  be  doomed  to  remain  alone?"  Ha!"  ex- 
claimed she,  "  I  now  begin  to  comprehend  why  many  of  us 
are  doomed  to  remain  alone  and  unmated.  It  is  because  we 
wish  to  build  our  abodes  too  costly,  and  are  not  contented 
with  our  natural  beauty,  but  try  to  improve  it  with  artificial 
means,  which,  besides  being  expensive,  renders  us  unfit  to 
be  useful  and  to  enjoy  genuine  happiness.  Would  to  G-od  it 
were  the  fashion  to  live  plainer,  and  less  expensive!  I 
would,  then,  readily  give  up  the  styles  and  fashions,  live 
more  humble,  and  marry  Frank  Wilkins,  for  then  we  could 
live  on  his  earnings." 

There  are  thousands  of  young,  marriageable  girls  in  this 
genial  land  whose  time  has  arrived,  not  to  be  alone,  and  who 
think  and  speak  as  Agnes  thought.  But  what  are  they  to 
do  ?  They  are  only  helpless  girls ;  they  look  to  their  parents, 
to  their  brothers,  to  their  teachers,  to  their  spiritual  guides, 
to  the  Zaio-givers,  and  those  who  execute  the  laws,  for  the 
right  example.  Poor  sufferers!  what  do  you  behold  but 
vanity!  vanity  I 

The  father  is  shortening  the  number  of  his  years  in  his 
great  effort  to  make  more  money,  in  order  to  gratify  the 
clamor  of  vanity;  and  if  disappointed  in  his  effort,  he  be- 
comes a  drunkard,  a  beast,  a  sot. 

The  mother  complains  that  she  is  losing  her  beauty,  and 
using  all  her  energy — yes,  and  vitality — to  appear  prettier 
and  better  than  she  really  is,  is  sacrificing  all  that  is  dear  to 
God  and  man,  merely  to  make  as  great,  or  even  a  greater 
show  than  her  neighbor. 

The  brothers  will  no  longer  remain  on  the  farm,  and  be- 
come farmers,  the  healthiest  and  most  independent  profession 
on  earth ;  nor  will  they  become  mechanics.  It  is  too  slow  a 
means  to  make  money.  They  flock  to  the  cities,  and  become 
clerks,  pedlars,  lawyers,  doctors,  flatterers,  and  many  of 
them,  out  of  dire  necessity,  sharp  cheats. 


302  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

Many  of  the  teachers  have  their  thoughts  too  nmch  occu- 
pied how  to  manage  to  have  their  salaries  increased,  instead 
of  bending  all  their  energy  toward  one  great  aim,  to  give 
the  children  a  sound  and  thorough  education. 

As  for  the  spiritual  teachers,  we  can  count  on  our  fingers 
how  many  real  spiritual  teachers  there  are  in  this  vast 
country.  The  ministers,  with  a  very  few  exceptions,  and 
these  exist  in  every  denomination,  are  the  vainest  class  of 
men  we  have.  Their  vanity  is  so  great  that  it  makes  them 
forget  their  exalted  calling;  their  vanity  makes  them  fight 
among  themselves  like  fighting-cocks ;  their  aim  is  only  to 
obtain  power  in  the  Church,  and  still  more,  political  power. 
These  men,  under  whose  charge  the  congregations  are 
rapidly  becoming  demoralized,  have  no  fear  of  God,  nor  do 
they  observe  the  laws  of  God  and  man. 

And  these  ministers,  who  so  signally  fail  in  their  duty 
toward  their  flock,  have  the  impudence  to  find  fault  with 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  because  it  says  noth- 
ing about  God — that  instrument  which  was  framed  by  men 
who  had  more  reverence  for  God  and  were  more  pious  in 
their  feelings  than  all  the  ministers  combined,  of  our  time. 
They  would  alter  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  put 
the  name  of  God  and  Christ  in  that  instrument,  not  for  the 
benefit  of  humanity,  but  for  their  own  benefit,  for  self-ag- 
grandizement, to  satisfy  their  vanity  and  love  of  power,  and 
then  to  rule  and  devastate  this  land  though  every  spot  of  it 
become  soaked  with  the  blood  of  its  children,  and  the  whole 
country  wrapped  in  one  vail  of  mourning. 

Thank  God  that  the  majority  of  the  American  citizens 
understand  their  high  game  and  say:  "Hands  off!  Church 
and  State  must  forever  remain  separated  in  this  great  Republic! 
And  every  good  man  and  good  woman  who  feels  for  the 
welfare  of  his  fellow -beings,  and  hopes  to  see  peace  reign 
supreme  in  our  dear  beloved  country,  will  join  with  the 
author  in  a  hearty  amen. 

They  have  to  look  to  their  law-givers  and  to  those  who 
execute  the  law  for  help  and  assistance,  to  get  married  when 


A   TALE   OF   REAL    LIFE.  303 

their  time  has  arrived,  not  to  be  alone;  but,  alas!  our  law- 
givers carry  with  them  to  their  high  office  the  vanity  prac- 
ticed at  home.  There  is  only  one  class  of  men  who  have  the 
right  to  speak  to  them  plainly  and  warn  them  of  the  conse- 
quences which  their  vanity  and  extravagance  will  result  in, 
and  these  men  are  the  ministers;  but  we  have  shown,  and 
the  "signs  of  the  times"  will  bear  witness  to  what  we  assert, 
that  the  priests  of  our  day  are  a  failure;  they  fail  in  their 
calling  because  they  are  vain;  they  follow  the  banner  of 
vanity,  and  not  the  banner  of  humility  and  piety ;  and  if  they 
do  not  improve  their  ways,  it  will  be  best  for  society  at  large 
to  dispense  with  them  altogether.  Let  the  elders  who  are 
good  and  wise  preach  before  their  congregations  the  word 
of  God,  with  the  ten  commandments  as  the  foundation,  for 
those  who  strictly  observe  them  in  the  fullest  sense  are  good 
men  and  women,  and  can  reasonably  hope  to  be  well  mated 
when  the  time  arrives,  not  to  be  alone.  They  then  will  lead 
a  happy  and  useful  life,  and  after  death  be  graciously  re- 
ceived by  Him  who  is  the  creator  and  the  preserver  of  the 
universe  and  the  redeemer  of  mankind. 

Frank  Wilkins,  before  going  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Edward 
Hunting,  stepped  in  the  post-office  to  see  whether  there  were 
some  letters  in  their  box,  and  great  was  his  joy,  to  find  a 
letter  directed  in  the  handwriting  of  Augustus  Hunting,  with 
the  post-office  stamp  of  San  Francisco.  He  hastened  to  Grand- 
father Hunting  to  tell  him  of  the  good  news,  and  also,  whether 
it  would  be  advisable  to  show  the  letter  to  Mr.  Edward  Hunt- 
ing in  his  convalescent  state. 

The  grandfather  was  delighted.  The  long  expected  letter 
from  his  beloved  grandson  had  come  at  last.  "I  will  read 
the  letter,  and  then  tell  you  whether  we  will  keep  the  contents 
to  ourselves  for  the  present,  or  whether  we  will  let  Mr.  Hunt- 
ing know  them." 

He  opened  the  letter,  and  rapidly  glancing  over  the  con- 
tents, he  exclaimed:  "He  must  know  it  at  once,"  and  imme- 
diately started  with  the  bookkeeper  to  his  son's  residence. 

Agnes  received  her  grandfather  reverently,  and  Frank 


304:  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

Wilkins  with  unaffected  pleasure  and  gracefulness.  Tho 
young  man  noticed  it,  and  felt  a  strange  flutter  in  his  breast. 

They  had  hardly  exchanged  the  common  courtesies  about  the 
weather  and  the  prospects  of  the  weather,  when  they  heard 
Mrs.  Hunting  call:  "Agnes,  please  come  up  stairs;  let  Mr. 
Wilkins  come,  too." 

The  young  people,  when  reaching  the  room,  found  the 
whole  family  assembled;  and  in  great  joy.  Mr.  Edward 
Hunting  handed  the  letter  to  Agnes,  saying:  "Bead  it  aloud, 
daughter."  And  she  read: 

"Mr  DEAR  PARENTS: 

"  I  presume  you  have  been  informed,  through  the  public 
press,  of  the  great  storm  which  raged  on  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
and  destroyed  my  noble  vessel.  All  perished  except  one 
sailor.  I  have  been  rescued  by  Karl  Miiller,  the  noble  com- 
mander of  the  man-of-war  King  William  I.,  who,  at  the  risk 
of  his  own  life,  saved  me  from  a  watery  grave.  For  months 
I  have  been  sick  with  brain  fever,  and,  through  kind  treat- 
ment, I  am  at  last  out  of  danger,  and  sufficiently  recovered  to 
pen  you,  my  dear,  beloved  parents,  this  letter,  which  I  hope 
will  find  you  all  in  the  enjoyment  of  good  health. 

"  Commander  Karl  Miiller  has  told  me,  that  he  has  a  sister, 
named  Augustine  Miiller,  who  went  to  America,  became  a 
cook  in  some  respectable  family,  and  sent  nearly  all  her 
earnings  to  the  old  country,  for  the  purpose  of  paying  for  the 
schooling  of  him,  her  only  brother.  The  brother,  however,  did 
not  know  of  his  sister's  sacrifice  until  he  graduated  from  col- 
lege, and  so  great  was  his  mortification,  that  he  left  his  home, 
never  to  write  to  his  parents  or  come  back  until  he  had  well 
succeeded  in  life. 

"As  soon  as  he  advanced  to  the  high  dignity  of  the  com- 
mander of  the  man-of-war  King  William  I.,  he  informed  his 
parents  of  his  success,  and  requested  them  to  let  him  know 
the  address  of  his  sister,  Augustine  Miiller;  since  he  had  orders 
to  visit  the  American  waters,  and  intended  to  bring  his  sister 
home  in  his  vessel. 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  305 

"  I  would  earnestly  request  you,  to  exert  yourself  to  the 
utmost,  to  find  the  sister  of  my  life-preserver ;  and  if  you 
should  be  so  fortunate  as  to  succeed,  please  invite  her  to  your 
house,  and  treat  her  as  one  of  your  own  daughters.  From 
the  description  the  brother  gives  me,  she  must  be  a  very 
beautiful  girl,  and  well-educated. 

"  Once  more  I  request  you  to  try  to  find  Augustine  Miiller, 
and  to  treat  her  with  the  greatest  kindness. 

"  I  am  in  haste,  mail  closing. 

"  Your  most  affectionate,  obedient  son, 

"  AUGUSTUS  HUNTING. 

"  1ST.  B. — Give  my  love  to  my  good  sisters,  and  brother 
Charles." 

Augustine  was  now  called  and  made  acquainted  with  the 
contents  of  the  letter.  Her  prophecy  had  been  true.  The 
Augustus  rescued  by  her  brother  was  Augustus  Hunting. 

Grandfather  Hunting  opened  his  wallet,  and,  taking  from 
it  five-twenty  coupons  to  the  amount  of  two  hundred  dollars, 
he  said : 

"Augustine,  take  this;  go  and  buy  someting  you  would 
like  to  possess." 

Augustine  declined  to  accept  the  gift,  and  said  : 

"  I  thank  you,  sir.  You  have  done  enough  for  me  by  ask- 
ing Mrs.  Hunting  to  give  me  a  room  and  bed  for  myself,  for 
it  was  not  pleasant  to  sleep  with  another  girl." 

"And  on  such  a  hard  mattress,"  added  the  grandfather, 
smilingly. 

"But  you  must  take  these  coupons;  they  are  as  good  as 
so  much  gold,"  exclaimed  the  grandfather. 

"No,  I  thank  you,  I  will  not  accept  them.  But,  fearing 
you  might  feel  offended,  I  propose  to  go  with  you  to-morrow 
afternoon  and  buy  something  to  replenish  my  wardrobe, 
since  I  expect  soon  to  go  home  to  my  native  land,  and  I  will 
take  these  presents  with  me  in  remembrance  of  the  good  and 
noble  grandfather  Hunting,"  said  Augustine,  almost  moved 
to  tears. 


306  OTTR   PROSPECTS. 

The  grandfather  quickly  stepped  up  to  the  noble  maiden 
and,  kissing  her  brow,  he  said : 

"Here  is  my  hand  that,  God  sparing  me,  I  will  go  with 
you  to  do  the  shopping,  and  I  will  be  as  happy  as  I  was 
when  buying  the  wedding  dresses  for  my  daughters." 

Augustine  left  the  room.  She  was  overpowered  with  hap- 
piness. Daily  she  could  now  expect  her  noble  brother  3£arl, 
who  would  take  her  home  in  a  vessel  of  which  he  was  com- 
mander. 

"What  joy  to  return  to  the  native  land,  and  to  be  received 
by  their  noble  parents  with  joyful  hearts  and  open  arms  !" 

"Whenever  such  thoughts  passed  before  her  mind,  she  had 
to  weep,  but  they  were  happy  tears,  each  of  them  worth  the 
jewels  of  the  crown  of  England. 

Supper  was  soon  served,  but  instead  of  Augustine,  Agnes 
served  the  meal,  which  consisted  of  dry  and  milk  toast,  home- 
made bread,  fresh  butter,  strawberries,  and  tea  with  boiled 
milk. 

"Don't  give  me  any  toast,  Agnes,"  said  the  grandfather. 
"I  can  not  eat  it  on  account  of  the  loss  of  my  teeth.  Just 
give  me  a  thin  slice  of  that  home-made  bread." 

"  Frank,"  continued  the  grandfather,  "  taste  that  bread,  it  is 
home-made.  Agnes  made  the  dough,  and  superintended  the 
baking.  I  think  it  delicious.  It  is  better  than  all  the  cakes 
in  the  world." 

At  the  name  of  cakes  Mrs.  Hunting  blushed,  and  thought 
of  the  time  when  vanity  made  her  so  foolish  as  to  pay  fifty 
dollars  for  two  cakes.  She  thanked  God  that  she  was  no 
longer  so  vain. 

Her  thoughts  were  occupied  now  with  the  happiness  of 
her  husband  and  her  children,  and  the  welfare  of  her  fellow- 
beings — not  with  the  fashions,  or  envying  Mrs.  So-and-so 
because  that  lady  dressed  prettier  and  drove  in  a  handsomer 
carriage.  "Thank  God,"  exclaimed  she,  "that  I  am  no 
longer  occupying  my  mind  with  such  trifling  matters;  I 
strive  now  for  higher  aims  :  to  please  God,  to  please  my 
husband,  to  be  a  good  and  watchful  mother,  and  a  real 


A   TALE    OF   REAL    LIFE.  307 

charitable  woman,  loved  by  God  and  my  husband  and 
honored  by  my  children,  friends  and  those  who  know  me 
best."  X-, 

"  That  is  my  goal !"  we  hear  you  say,  reader— and  it  is  a 
noble  one. 

Frank  "Wilkins  gladly  accepted  the  home-made  bread 
which -Agnes  offered  him.  After  tasting  it,  he  said:  "This 
is  indeed  good  bread,  an  honor  to  the  hands  that  can  prepare 
such  a  loaf  of  bread." 

Miss  Agnes  was  happy  to  hear  her  bread  praised  by  him 
whose  opinion  she  so  highly  valued. 

Mrs.  Hunting  then  told  that  her  daughters  were  now  pre- 
paring the  meals  for  the  family,  that  they  changed  every 
day;  that  each  of  them  had  the  honor  to  cook,  and  that  the 
family  never  before  enjoyed  such  well  prepared  food  as  now. 

"  Blessed  are  those  hands  that  do  their  own  work,"  said 
the  grandfather,  with  much  feeling. 

"  So  they  are,"  remarked  Mr.  Edward  Hunting,  "  and 
especially  if  every  member  of  the  family  sincerely  endeavors 
to  do  his  or  her  part  to  add  to  the  comfort,  knowledge  and 
wealth  of  all.  Such  family  is  fortified  against  the  accidents 
and  misfortune  of  life,  and  can  defend  their  home  well 
against  want  and  extreme  inconveniences,  for  they  are  self- 
relying;  they  work  one  for  all,  and  all  for  one.  Peace  and 
blessing  rule  in  a  family  where  such  principles  are  in  vogue. 
By  the  by.  Frank,"  continued  Mr.  Edward  Hunting,  "while 
on  this  theme,  to-morrow  two  of  my  principal  clerks  will  be 
discharged,  and  two  new  clerks  will  take  their  places." 

"Do  you  mean  Overbeck  and  Fastleben?"  asked  the  book- 
keeper, quickly. 

"Yes,  Frank,  and  Miss  Agnes,  Miss  Myra  and  Miss  Blanche 
are  going  to  take  their  places,  with  the  understanding  that 
Monday  Agnes  has  to  stay  at  home  and  cook,  and  assist  in 
housework ;  Tuesday,  Myra ;  Wednesday,  Blanche,  and  so  from 
one  day  to  the  other.  In  this  manner  all  my  daughters  will 
learn  how  to  cook;  they  will  know  the  value  of  money, 
when  they  see  how  hard  it  is  to  earn  money,  and  will  be 


308  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

careful  in  spending  it.  It  was  for  that  purpose  I  ordered 
to  have  every  article,  on  each  floor,  noted  down,  in  the 
pocket  ledgers,  so  that  my  daughters  should  be  enabled  to 
find  easily  what  article  was  wanted,  and  on  what  floor  to 
look  for  it." 

Frank  "Wilkins  was  greatly  surprised  at  what  he  heard. 
"  Is  it  possible  that  Mrs.  Hunting,  the  proud  Mrs.  Hunting 
will  allow  that  her  daughters  should  go  and  work  at  the 
store?"  It  was  unexpected  to  him  to  hear  and  to  see  that 
Mrs.  Hunting's  daughters  could  cook  and  make  such  good 
bread  and  to  wait  so  gracefully  and  so  happily  at  the  table. 
But  that  they  should  go  to  the  store  and  work  there,  and  the 
proud  Mrs.  Hunting  have  no  objection,  was  more  than  he 
could  comprehend. 

"  It  will  give  me  great  pleasure  to  see  the  young  ladies 
take  an  active  part  in  our  business,  but  what  will  the  world 
say,  when  they  hear  that  the  daughters  of  Edward  Hunting, 
Esq.,  are  clerks,"  exclaimed  Frank  Wilkins. 

"  The  world  has  nothing  to  say  in  this  matter,  the  world 
has  a  right  to  expect,  and  does  expect  from  each  man,  woman 
and  child,  good  behavior,  which  can  only  be  attained  by 
having  a  pleasant  occupation,  and  my  daughters  will  con- 
sider it  a  pleasant  employment  to  assist  their  good  father  in 
his  business,  and  if  we  do  not  take  good  care  of  our  business 
the  business  will  not  take  care  of  us.  Therefore,  every  male 
and  female  of  the  family  shall  assist  and  make  themselves 
useful  to  the  best  of  their  ability  to  promote  the  success  of 
the  business  to  which  they  look  for  support,  and  not  leave, 
like  it.  is  now  generally  the  case,  the  whole  load  to  the  hus- 
band and  father,  under  which  many,  no  doubt,  break  down, 
for  they  are  not  properly  assisted  by  those  to  whom  they  have 
a  right  to  look  for  support.  If  anything,  their  idleness  and 
extravagance  undermine  the  good  name  and  capital  of  the 
house,  and  when  the  main  support  breaks  down,  the  whole 
family  sinks,  and  often  sinks  out  of  sight  to  rise  no  more. 
No,  my  family  shall  not  sink,  but  stand  before  the  world,  not 
proud,  for  fools  are  proud — not  proud,  but  wise  I  Wise  enough 


A   TALE  OF   REAL   LIFE.  309 

to  look  within  themselves  for  happiness — wise  enough  not  to 
be  ashamed  to  work — wise  enough  not  to  squander  their 
means  for  tinsel  and  tassel — wise  enough  not  to  be  the  slave 
of  fashion — wise  enough  not  to  be  vain — wise  enough  to 
know  and  to  acknowledge  God  as  the  only  source  of  hope  for 
happiness  here  and  hereafter — wise  enough  to  know  that  the 
right  life  to  live,  is  to  live  virtuous  and  to  be  usefully  occu- 
pied— wise  enough  to  practice  all  those  virtues,  not  from 
compulsion,  but  from  their  own  choice,  from  their  firm  con- 
viction, that  only  through  industry,  virtue  and  charity  they 
can  attain  genuine  happiness,  enjoy  the  respect  of  the  world, 
and  the  love  of  God,"  said  Mrs.  Hunting,  eloquently. 

Grandfather  Hunting  laid  down  his  knife  and  fork,  and, 
seeing  that  all  had  finished  their  meal,  clasped  his  hands  to- 
gether, and  lifting  his  eyes  heavenward,  he  prayed,  in  a  trem- 
ulous voice : 

"  Thou,  my  gracious  Father,  I  thank  thee  for  the  great 
blessing  that  thou  hast  permitted  me  and  those  here  assem- 
bled to  eat  in  health  the  cereals  and  fruit  that  thou,  in  thy 
loving  kindness,  so  bountifully  allowest  to  grow,  and  givest 
men  the  wisdom  to  prepare  them,  sweet  to  the  taste  and  in- 
vigorating to  the  body.  I  thank  thee,  thou  great  Creator, 
for  the  manifold  blessings  that  we  receive  from  thy  Holy 
Spirit.  I  thank  thee  for  the  heavenly  joy  that  I  now  feel  for 
having  heard  the  wife  of  my  son,  and  the  mother  of  five 
children,  express  so  beautifully  the  true  aims  of  life.  Bless 
her,  thou  gracious  God,  prolong  her  life,  give  her  strength  to 
carry  out  her  views.  '  Transeat  in  exemplum,'  yes,  may  it 
go  into  good  example.  Bless  my  son  with  health,  peace,  and 
prosperity.  Bless  my  grandson  Augustus,  restore  him  to  per- 
fect health.  Bless  all  my  grandchildren,  and  keep  them  on 
the  path  of  virtue  and  honorable  usefulness.  Bless  the  young 
man  who  is  now  with  us  with  good  health,  that  he  may  con- 
tinue to  lead  a  useful  life,  and  be  a  good  example  to  others. 
Thou  great  and  omnipotent  God,  I  implore  thee,  save  man- 
kind from  temptations,  be  with  them  in  the  moments  when 
they  are  tempted  to  do  wrong.  Save  them,  thou  gracious 


310  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

Father,  from  Bin,  make  mankind  better  than  they  now  are, 
that  vice  should  cease  to  exist,  and  virtue  rule  supreme.  Be 
merciful  unto  us  for  our  shortcomings,  and  unite  humanity 
to  recognize  thee  as  the  only  G-od,  to  give  thanksgiving  to 
thee,  and  sing  thy  praises  in  one  united  grand  chorus. 
Amen." 

All  rose  and  left  the  table.  They  were  moved  to  tears  by 
the  eloquent  prayer  of  this  noble  patriarch.  Frank  Wil- 
kins  grasped  the  hand  of  the  old  gentleman,  and  thanked 
him  for  remembering  him  in  his  eloquent  appeal  to  the  Most 
High. 

"  Pa,  shall  we  go  to  the  parlor?"  asked  Miss  Myra. 

"No,  my  dear  daughter;  to  the  library.  To-night  is  our 
reading  night,  not  for  music,"  answered  the  father,  kindly. 

"  I  thought,  because  being  honored  with  the  visit  of  Mr. 
Wilkins,  we  would  rather  play  on  the  piano  this  evening," 
remarked  Myra,  naively. 

"Frank,  which  do  you  prefer  to  hear,  good  reading  or 
good  music?"  asked  Mr.  Hunting. 

"I  enjoy  both,  and  if  this  is  the  evening  appointed  for 
reading,  I  would  be  happy  to  partake  in  the  pleasure." 

They  assembled  in  the  library,  and,  as  soon  as  every  mem- 
ber was  present,  Charles  Hunting,  not  the  Charles  Hunting 
of  old,  but  the  thoroughly  reformed  Charles  Hunting,  took 
a  volume  of  Shakespeare,  and  commenced  to  read  Borneo  and 
Juliet,  which  he  of  late  had  studied,  and  knew  almost  by 
heart. 

"  Charles,  please,  stop  for  a  moment,"  exclaimed  the  grand- 
father, and  turning  to  his  son  and  daughter-in-law,  he  said  : 

"  "Would  you  have  any  objection  to  invite  Augustine  to  this 
feast  of  intellectual  entertainment?" 

"Not  at  all,  not  at  all,"  exclaimed  both.  "I  am  glad, 
grandpa,  that  you  have  mentioned  it,"  said  Mrs.  Hunting, 
leaving  the  room,  and  in  a  few  moments  she  returned  with 
Augustine,  whose  beautiful  face  beamed  with  happiness. 

"  God  bless  my  brother  Karl  for  this  happiness.     I  owe  it 


,  A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  311 

to  his  noble  act,"  thought  Augustine.  Yet  through  her 
alone  he  had  become  what  he  was. 

"Augustine,"  said  Mr.  Hunting,  "please,  consider  your- 
self as  one  of  my  daughters,  share  with  us  all  our  pleasures, 
and  be  with  us  every  evening,  either  at  our  musical  or  read- 
ing entertainment,  and  do  not  wait  to  be  invited." 

Augustine  thanked  Mr.  Hunting,  and  with  a  graceful  bow, 
took  the  proffered  seat,  which  the  grandfather  kindly  offered 
her. 

Charles  Hunting  continued  to  read  with  much  feeling,  and 
at  some  of  the  passages  he  closed  the  book  and  recited  them 
with  the  spirit  of  the  hero  whom  the  work  represents. 
When  he  concluded,  he  received  from  the  whole  company  a 
hearty  applause,  in  which  none  partook  more  freely  than 
the  grandfather.  He  stepped  to  his  grandson,  and,  kissing 
him  fervently,  he  said  : 

"  Your  reading  and  declamation  have  made  me  happier 
than  I  have  been  for  a  very  long  time.  Here,"  and  taking  an 
old-fashioned  time-piece  from  his  vest  pocket,  he  continued, 
"  My  dear  Charles,  I  present  you  this  watch,  my  faithful  com- 
panion for  sixty  years,  given  to  me  by  my  grandfather  when 
I  was  a  young  man  of  seventeen,  on  the  condition  to  accept 
as  my  motto,  'C.  C.  C.,'  which  should  stand  inscribed  on  my 
heart  as  chastity,  cheerfulness,  and  charity,  and  in  order  to 
observe  this  motto,  I  had  to  be  industrious,  and  to  have  noble 
aims.  This  grand  motto  made  me  what  I  am,  and  even  at 
the  age  of  seventy-seven,  I  am  enjoying  comparative  good 
health.  Now,  will  you  accept  these  three  C.s  as  your  motto, 
with  the  watch  I  present  to  you  ?" 

"  Yes,  my  good  grandfather,  I  will,"  said  Charles,  moved 
to  tears. 

Then  he  went  to  his  room.  On  reaching  the  same,  he 
threw  himself  in  a  chair,  and  wept  as  if  his  very  heart 
would  break.  What  was  it  that  moved  the  young  man  so 
deeply  ? 

His  love  for  Eosalind  had  made  him  feel  his  degradation, 
the  result  of  his  former  doings.  On  his  arrival  at  home,  he 


312  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

sought  an  interview  with  his  beloved  Rosalind,  which  she 
granted.  In  his  absence,  Eosalind  had  grown  even  more 
beautiful  and  dignified  than  she  had  been  before. 

"When  he  beheld  her  so  beautiful,  so  noble  in  her  bearing, 
he  fell  on  his  knees  and  implored  her  to  forgive  him  for  hav- 
ing trifled  with  his  pledge,  to  love  her,  and  her  only ;  to  for- 
get the  life  he  had  led,  and  to  seal  that  forgiveness  with  a 
kiss. 

He  rose  to  receive  the  kiss,  but  she  motioned  him  from  her 
presence. 

"Touch  me  not!  for  I  am  virgin.  Touch  me  not!  for  thy 
lips  and  thy  body  are  impure.  You  have  embraced  creatures 
who,  for  a  price,  allow  themselves  to  be  embraced  by  thieves, 
housebreakers,  cut-throats,  jail  and  penitentiary  birds,  by 
murderers,  and  all  kinds  of  degraded  human  whelps.  Touch 
me  not !  for  you  are  impure.  It  takes  nature  seven  years  to 
renew  the  crust  of  the  human  body,  and  seven  years  you 
have  to  wait  for  that  kiss.  If  I  find  that  you  have  for  seven 
years  truly  repented,  and  become  an  honorable  man  in  the 
fullest  sense  of  the  word,  then  I  will  gladly  forgive  you,  and 
if  you  then  ask  me  to  become  your  wife,  I  will  join  you 
in  wedlock  with  my  whole  heart  and  with  my  whole  soul," 
and  without  another  word  she  had  left  him  as  if  rooted  to 
the  spot. 

Charles  Hunting  now,  for  the  first  time,  loved  the  noble 
Eosalind  La  Monte  as  he  had  never  loved  before.  He  found 
relief  in  the  historical  fact  that  Father  Jacob  actually  served 
the  deceitful  Laban  twice  seven  years  for  the  beautiful 
Eachel.  "  He  will  wait  seven  years,  let  nature  renew  and  re- 
ceive his  true  repentance  in  the  new  frame,  and  after  seven 
years  marry  the  noblest  of  all  maidens,  Eosalind  La  Monte. 
Grandfather  had  presented  him  with  the  old  souvenir  and 
requested  him  to  accept  his  motto,  '  C.  C.  C.' — Chastity, 
Cheerfulness  and  Charity ;  but  why  did  not  his  grandfather 
give  him  that  great  motto  before?  It  would  not  now  be 
necessary  to  wait  seven  years  before  he  could  hope  to  obtain 
Eosalind's  consent  to  become  his  wife. 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  313 

"Yes,"  continued  he  in  a  tremulous  voice,  "why  did  not 
my  grandfather  speak  to  me  before  about  chastity  ;  why  did 
he  leave  that  important  instruction  to  our  priest,  who  as  time 
proved,  was  himself  a  wolf  in  sheepskin  ;  a  robber  of  chas- 
tity, who  robbed  women  of  their  virtue,  « whenever  opportu- 
nity would  permit.  Woe  to  me  now,  that  I  had  such  a  moral 
and  spiritual  instructor !  No  wonder  I  became  an  impure 
man."  He  left  his  chair,  and  strode  up  and  down  his 
room  ;  he  balled  his  fist  and  cried  :  "  Damn  those  priests  who 
use  their  garb  and  their  exalted  position  for  a  demoralizing 
purpose !  What  made  of  me  a  libertine  and  a  gambler  is 
because,  as  a  young  man  I  caught  one  of  these  ministers  kiss- 
ing and  embracing  a  handsome  married  woman ;  and  when 
I  threatened  to  denounce  him  he  mockingly  said:  'None 
will  believe  you  ;  I  am  a  minister  of  the  church.  But,  young 
man,  take  my  advice,  and  enjoy  yourself  while  you  are 
young.'  Those  words  from  our  minister  fired  in  me  the 
demon,  and  I  became  what  I  was.  Eosalind,  my  dear  Eosa- 
lind  !  thou  art  a  true  priestess  ;  thy  purity  shall  make  of  me 
a  pure  man." 

He  paused,  reflected  and  continued  :  "  How  the  words  of 
my  noble  old  grandfather  inspire  me  to  '  chastity,  cheerful- 
ness and  charity !'  Why?  Because  they  came  from  his  very 
heart.  Our  minister,  too,  occasionally  spoke  about  chastity 
and  charity,  but  there  was  no  heart  in  it ;  for  how  can  a 
commander  inspire  his  troops  with  bravery  when  he  himself 
is  a  coward?  How  could  the  minister  inspire  his  congrega- 
tion with  morality,  with  charity,  with  piety,  when  he  himself 
practiced  immorality?  When  he  was  an  uncharitable  and 
an  impious  man  ? 

"  'C.  C.  C.'  I  shall  always  see  and  remember,  when  looking 
at  this  watch,  and  when  feeling  it  in  my  pocket ;  it  shall 
lay  under  my  pillow  when  I  sleep,  and  be  on  my  body  when 
I  am  awake.  I  will  become  the  champion  of  Chastity,  and 
therefore  will  watch  the  ministers  with  lynx's  eyes.  I  will  be 
cheerful  for  that  is  the  next  I  need.  I  will  be  chari- 


314  OUR   PEOSPECTS. 

table,  for  charity  ennobles  man,  and  I  want  to  be  noble,  to 
become  truly  worthy  of  the  noble  Eosalind  La  Monte. 
"  Let  mutual  joys  our  mutual  trust  combine, 
And  love  and  love-born  confidence  be  thine." 

— Pope. 

"When  Charles  Hunting  left  the  room  Frank  TVilkins  took 
from  the  library  the  Book  of  Job,  and  after  reading  with  a 
fine  pronunciation,  several  passages,  he  gave  his  views  on 
that  immortal  work,  which  tries  to  solve  the  riddle,  why  do  we 
often  see,  that  bad  men  and  women,  who  have  no  feeling 
for  neighbors,  get  along  finely,  and  prosper  in  this  world 
while  many  good  men  and  good  women,  who  feel  for  their 
fellow-beings,  have  continually  up-hill  work  ;  continually  to 
swim  against  the  current,  and  are  always  in  trouble  how  to 
make  both  ends  meet. 

The  grandfather  said :  "  Success  in  life  depends,  to  a  very 
great  extent,  on  small  insignificant  matters,  which,  if  neg- 
lected or  lightly  treated,  will  undermine  our  prospects  of 
success.  Such  as  sleeping  late  in  the  morning ;  eating  or 
drinking  a  little  more  than  we  ought ;  coming  a  little  later 
to  our  business;  paying  our  bills  a  little  later  than  the  speci- 
fied time ;  being  a  little  unattentive  to  our  business ;  living 
in  a  better  house  than  we  can  afford  ;  dressing  a  little  better 
than  our  income  permits;  being  a  little  uncivil,  or  ill-treat- 
ing and  neglecting  to  recognize  those  who  held  the  ladder 
on  which  we  have  climbed  up  to  a  commanding  posi- 
tion. All  this  is  little  in  itself,  but  it  has  a  wonderful  effect 
on  our  success  ;  and  the  very  people  who  are  so  good  to 
others,  are  not  good  to  themselves.  They  neglect  to  do  their 
duty  as  they  should,  and  hence  they  do  not  succeed  in  their 
efforts  as  they  ought;  while  those  who  are  considered  as 
being  noxious  to  others,  are  good  to  themselves,  and  watch 
all  these  little  matters.  As  small  streams  will  make  a  large 
river,  so  do  these  little  matters  add  to  the  great  success. 

"But  there  are  other  matters  which  secure  success,"  the 
grandfather  continued,  "  and  these  are :  to  see  quickly  the 
advantages  to  be  gained ;  to  catch,  at  the  first  tide,  the  ad- 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  315 

vantage  ;  never  to  get  out  of  patience ;  never  to  become 
despondent,  and  to  lament ;  always  to  be  hopeful  and  cheer- 
ful ;  always  striving,  with  intelligence,  and  an  energy  which 
admits  of  no  failure.  And,  yet,  there  is  one  more  thing  in- 
dispensable to  achieve  great  success — marriage;  but  married 
to  those  we  love,  and  who  reciprocate  our  love  ;  who  gladly 
forego  a  thousand  comforts  and  conveniences,  and  suppress  a 
thousand  desires,  which  the  loved  one  is  not  able  to  fulfill. 
To  be  so  united  in  love  that  they  shoulder,  with  one  will,  the 
cares  and  trials  of  life  ;  and  when  disappointment  overtakes 
them,  to  be  still  one  in  hope,  and  like  one  in  action  ;  one 
encouraging  the  other  onward!  onward!  with  the  banner  of 
success  before  their  vision,  then  they  will,  in  spite  of  all, 
conquer  success  from  the  very  jaws  of  fate.  Such  a  couple 
will  raise  a  Jlarge  family  of  children,  and  become,  through 
them,  a  power  in  the  community  ;  whether  for  evil  or  good, 
depends  how  they  were  raised  in  their  early  childhood — 
what  impression  the  mother,  the  father,  the  teacher,  and  the 
religious  instructor  have  made  on  them — what  examples  their 
neighbors  gave  them.  If  they  were  bad,  they  become  bad 
through  the  wrong  education  and  the  examples  they  saw. 
They  are  naturally  good,  for  they  have  in  their  very  n'ature 
the  intensity  and  the  sincerity  to  succeed  and  to  hope  ;  and 
in  a  nature  where  intensity  and  pure  love  exist,  and  is 
garbed  with  a  healthy  body,  a  man  or  a  woman  is  a  two- 
edged  sword,  that  will  hew  out  success  where  thousands  of 
others,  better  than  themselves,  have  failed.  This  is  my  way 
of  reasoning  to  solve  the  great  riddle,  why  the  bad  often 
succeed  where  the  good  have  signally  failed,"  concluded  the 
grandfather,  with  a  satisfied  air. 

All  were  lost  in  thought,  for  the  grand  old  patriarch  not 
only  reasoned  well,  but  also  spoke  forcibly.  Every  word 
went  home  to  those  who  listened.  , 

"  Yes,"  said  he  again,  «  to  achieve  great  success  in  life,  it 
is  our  duty  to  get  married,  when  the  time  has  arrived,  not  to 
be  alone." 

At  these  words  Miss  Agnes  started,  for  they  were  her 


316  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

thoughts.  Frank  Wilkins  felt,  also,  a  strange  emotion  ;  for 
ever  since  the  pleasant  New  Year's  eve  which  he  had  spent 
at  his  employer's  house,  and  so  unexpectedly  received  from 
Agnes'  glorious  and  beautiful  eyes  the  sparks  of  love,  he 
had  tried  to  quench  them  with  the  heavenly  dew  of  calm  rea- 
soning and  reflection ;  but  somehow  he  could  not  succeed,  and 
the  sparks  brightened  into  a  bright  flame  of  love  for  Agnes.  He 
kept  it  to  himself,  but  he  was  discontented  and  unhappy ;  he 
felt  that  he  was  alone,  and  now  the  words  spoken  by  the 
grandfather,  "  when  the  time  has  arrived,  not  to  be  alone," 
had  a  powerful  effect  on  him,  and  he  listened  with  all  atten- 
tion. 

"Yes,"  repeated  the  grandfather,  turning  toward  Frank 
Wilkins,  and  almost  addressing  him,  "when  the  time  has 
arrived,  not  to  be  alone,  then  it  is  our  time  to  .look  around 
and  get  well  mated." 

Involuntarily,  as  by  an  impulse,  Frank  Wilkins  looked  at 
Agnes  Hunting,  and  Agnes  Hunting  looked  at  Frank  Wil- 
kins. Their  eyes  were  at  that  very  moment  lit  with  the 
heavenly  light  which  is  a  part  of  the  very  light  of  God,  the 
light  of  pure  love.  Their  eyes  met,  they  felt  like  being  elec- 
trified, and  the  holy  light  united  them  as  one.  Both  felt  the 
joyful  shock,  both  blushed,  and  both  listened  as  the  grand- 
father said  : 

"  Yes,  children,  to  become  happy  and  achieve,  success,  get 
well  mated,  when  the  time  has  arrived,  not  to  be  alone  — " 

He  was  interrupted ;  there  was  a  violent  ringing  of  the 
bell,  which  Ellen  answered.  It  is  the  same  Ellen  who  ate 
the  nine  eggs,  fried  in  butter  and  turned  over — the  way 
Augustine  had  taught  her  to  fry  them;  but  she  had  not  at- 
tempted again  to  eat  nine  of  them  just  before  going  to  bed. 
Ellen  looked  tidy,  and  happy  as  a  bird,  for  she  was  a  bride, 
engaged  to  the  same  Patrick  referred  to  in  the  opening  part 
of  "  Our  Prospects."  Ellen's  cheek  bloomed  as  a  rose ;  joy 
reigned  within  her,  for  Patrick  did  not  go  on  any  sprees;  ho 
kept  his  pledge  like  a  man !  and  she  had  reason  to  expect 
that  he  would  make  a  good  husband.  A  telegraph  carrier 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  317 

stood  before  the  door,  and  said :     "  There  is   a  telegram  ; 
please  sign  it."     But,  unfortunately,  Ellen  could  not  write ; 
so  she  took  the  dispatch  and  book  to  the  library. 
Mr.  Edward  Hunting  read  the  dispatch  aloud : 

"  Have  recovered  complete  health,  sail  with  Karl  Miiller, 
in  his  vessel,  to  New  York.  His  sister  Augustine  is  in  your 
house.  Expect  us  both  anon.  .>;;;, 

"  AUGUSTUS  HUNTING." 

There  was  great  rejoicing  in  the  family.  The  wife 
kissed  her  husband,  the  grandfather  kissed  his  son  and 
Augustine,  and  Myra  kissed  Blanche.  Frank  and  Agnes 
felt  like  kissing,  too. 

It  being  now  late,  Frank  Wilkins  took  his  departure,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Edward  Hunting,  Agnes,  and  the  grandfather  es- 
corting him  to  the  head  of  the  stairs.  Soon  the  ladies  retired, 
but  the  son  and  father  returned  to  the  library.  Both  were 
silent,  for  both  were  busy  with  their  thoughts,  thinking  of  the 
never  to  be  forgotten  New-Year's  eve.  "What  changes  for  the 
good  of  all  have  they  achieved  since  that  memorable  evening! 
Mrs.  Hunting,  no  longer  the  vain,  proud  woman,  who  has  her 
thoughts  continually  occupied  with  the  glitter  of  the  world, 
and  who  thinks  it  a  disgrace  for  her  daughters  to  cook  and 
make  themselves  generally  useful  in  the  house.  The  daught- 
ers, no  longer  ailing,  and  dressed  up  like  dolls,  but  healthy, 
in  consequence  of  the  bodily  exercise,  and  by  endeavoring  to 
make  themselves  useful  and  earn  the  bread  they  eat.  They 
no  longer  play  the  ladies,  to  be  waited  on,  but  wait  on  them- 
selves and  try  to  help  others. 

Charles,  who  gave  them  so  much  trouble,  and  caused  them 
so  much  anxiety,  is  now  on  a  very  fair  way  to  become  a  use- 
ful and  honorable  man. 

"Edward!  Edward,"  exclaimed  the  grandfather,  almost 
overpowered  by  his  deep  emotion  ;  "  I  can  not  tell  you  how 
very  happy  I  feel  this  evening,  to  see  you,  my  dear  son,  re- 
covering your  health ;  you,  who  are  so  dear  to  me,  and  who? 


318  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

through  his  kindness  and  public  spirit,  has  endeared  himself 
to  a  large  community ;  to  have  heard  your  noble  wife,  for  she 
is  noble,  and  may  G-od  bless  her,  expound  the  true  aims  of  life 
so  beautifully  to  the  family.  Your  daughters,  so  good,  and  so 
willing  to  render  us  happy.  Charles,  how  beautifully  he 
reads  and  recites;  he  is  in  love  with  Eosalind  La  Monte, 
whom  I  well  know.  She  is  a  noble  maiden,  a  woman,  as 
God  has  created  woman  to  be.  If  she  will  take  him  as  a 
husband,  Charles  will  become  one  of  the  most  honorable, 
prominent  and  useful  men  in  the  whole  State.  The  lad  has 
good  metal  within  him,  and  the  good  and  beautiful  Eosalind 
is  the  only  person  who  can  make  his  metal  ring  for  the  benefit 
of  his  fellow-men.  And  now  the  news  that  Augustus  is 
coming,  and  brings  the  brother  of  Augustine  with  him,  fills 
my  cup  of  happiness;  but  it  is  not  full  yet,"  continued  tho 
happy  grandfather,  "  there  is  one  more  reform  we  have  to 
bring  about,  and  which  is  nothing  less,  than  that  our  women 
folks  shall  not  wear  tight  and  thin  shoes,  shall  not  wear  tight 
garters,  shall  not  wear  any  corsets,  and  above  all,  do  without 
the  waterfall,  which  is,  besides  imposition,  a  great  injury  to 
their  health." 

The  son  interrupted  his  father,  saying,  smilingly :  "  That 
will  be  a  hard  nut  to  crack." 

"I  know  it,"  answered  the  old  gentleman,  "but  neverthe- 
less, we  must  try.  I  hope  that  after  we  shall  have  reasoned 
with  our  women  folks,  and  shown  them  the  injurious  effects 
of  such  dressing,  they  will  gladly  accept  our  good  advice. 

Since  the  sickness  of  his  son  Edward,  the  grandfather  had 
made  his  home  with  his  son,  and  soon  both  retired. 

Frank  "Wilkins,  on  reaching  the  street,  and  feeling  the  ge- 
nial air,  seeing  the  stars  and  the  full-shining  moon,  ex- 
claimed :  "  The  stars  and  the  moon  seem  to  shine  brighter 
and  grander  to  me  to-night,  than  usually.  Everything  I  now; 
behold  seems  to  please  me  better,  and  invigorate  me  with  a 
power  I  have  never  felt  before.  Why  is  it?"  asked  he  men- 
tally. "Is  it  because  I  love?  I  love  Miss  Agnes  Hunting, 
there  is  no  denying  it.  For  months,  I  felt  a  strange  longing 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  319 

to  be  nearer  her.  I  could  not  comprehend  what  it  really 
meant,  but  to-night  it  has  been  disclosed  to  me  that  I  love 
her — love  Agnes  with  my  whole  heart — love  her  now,  because 
she  is  not  so  vain  as  she  has  been  months  ago — -love  her,  be- 
cause she  dresses  plain  and  is  unassuming — love  her,  because 
she  knows  how  to  cook  and  to  make  a  loaf  of  nice  bread — 
love  her,  because  she  is  not  too  lazy  or  ashamed  to  do  house- 
work. Agnes  Hunting  will  now  make  a  good  wife,  and  a 
good  wife  is  the  best  companion  of  a  man,  as  soon  as  he 
begins  to  feel  lonesome  and  alone. 

He  reached  his  room,  which  was  very  plainly  furnished. 
No  other  ornament  but  an  engraving  of  Alexander  Von 
Humboldt,  framed  in  walnut,  graced  the  wall.  There  was 
also  a  cage  containing  a  canary  bird.  As  soon  as  he  entered 
the  room  the  little  bird  lifted  its  head,  flapped  its  wings, 
and  gave  a  joyous  exclamation.  It  pleased  Frank  "Wilkins 
very  much,  and  he  exclaimed:  "How  happy  do  I  feel  to 
notice  the  joy  Of  my  bird !  but  how  much  happier  will  I  be 
•when  coming  home  from  my  daily  work  to  be  received  with 
open  arms  by  a  loving  wife  and  darling  children !  Yes," 
said  he,  "that  will  be  nice,  and  is  the  right  life  to  live;  this 
being  alone  is  lonesome  enough  to  get  tired  of  one's  self." 

He  walked  up  and  down  his  little  room,  paused  for  a  mo- 
ment, and  then  continued  "his  measured  steps,  lost  in  deep 
reflection. 

"Yes,"  he  exclaimed,  "my  time  to  get  married  has  ar- 
rived. Agnes  Hunting  will  make  me  a  good  wife,  and  I 
will  try  to  be  a  good  husband ;  but  getting  married  takes 
money,  of  which  I  have  only  sparingly.  To  help  to  marry 
off  my  five  sisters,  the  expenses  of  my  dear  mother's  sick- 
ness and  her  funeral — those  expensive  funerals !  I  never  had 
an  idea  before  that  funerals  were  so  expensive — have  re- 
duced my  savings  considerably,  yet  I  do  not  feel  sorry  for 
the  money  I  have  spent.  I  have  done  my  duty,  but  I  miss 
the  money  now  to  start  in  some  kind  of  business  that  would 
support  me  and  my  family,  and  enable  me  to  furnish  a  few 
rooms ;  but  how  can  I  increase  my  capital?  I  have  it  now. 


320  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

I  will  ask  Mr.  Hunting  for  a  loan  of  five  thousand  dollars 
from  the  funds  of  Mrs.  Ida  Lothimore,  and  to  go  as  my 
security;  with  this  money  and  what  I  have  still  left,  I  can  go 
into  business  and  have  done  with  boarding  and,  what  is  even 
worse,  being  alone."  With  these  thoughts  and  a  prayer  he 
fell  asleep. 

"  She  looks  as  clear 
As  morning  roses  newly  washed  with  dew." 

— Shakespeare. 

The  morning  sun  rose  in  all  its  inspiring  glory,  and  so 
rose  Miss  Myra,  refreshed  by  a  healthful  sleep  and  pleasant 
dreams,  dreams  of  love  and  a  happy  future.  She  quickly 
dressed  herself,  saying:  "To-day  is  my  time  to  work  in  the 
kitchen.  I  want  to  beat  Augustine  and  Ellen,  to  be  the  first 
in  the  kitchen,  have  my  fire  made,  the  coffee-pot  on  the 
stove,  and  the  potatoes  peeled  and  sliced  in  the  frying-pan. 
Oh  !  how  glad  I  am  that  I  know  how  to  prepare  a  breakfast 
all  by  myself!"  Her  neat  toilet  being  finished,  she  looked  in 
the  mirror  and  seemed  well  pleased  with  her  clear  complexion 
and  full  rosy  cheeks,  blooming  with  health  and  happy  ani- 
mation. "That  house-work  which  I  used  to  dislike  so  much 
is  not  half  so  hard  as  ma  made  it  out,  and,  besides,  it  makes 
one  feel  so  nice;  one  has  such  a  good  appetite."  Beaching 
the  kitchen  she  went  to  work  in  good  earnest,  and  soon  the 
morning  meal  was  ready.  All  the  members  of  the  family 
were  ready  to  eat  their  breakfast,  but  the  grandfather  was 
not  to  be  found  in  the  house.  They  waited ;  at  last  he 
came. 

"Where  have  you  been,  grandpa?"  asked  Myra,  some- 
what low-spirited,  for  her  nice  breakfast  had  got  pretty 
nearly  spoiled  by  waiting  so  long. 

"Where  have  you  been,  father?"  asked  Mr.  Edward 
Hunting. 

"  I  took  a  walk  down  town  and  requested  the  barber 
Bauntain  to  call  at  the  house." 

"That's  right!"  exclaimed  the  daughters  in  one  voice, 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  321 

"  for  we  wish  to  have  our  hair  cut  short,  and  bid  those  heavy- 
waterfalls  an  affectionate  good-bye.  Let  those  who  are  vain 
enough  to  sacrifice  their  health  and  happiness  wear  their 
waterfalls,  their  tight  corsets,  and  their  tight  and  thin-soled 
shoes;  we  are  done  with  such  apparels,  thanks  to  you,  our 
noble  grandfather,  to  you,  our  noble  parents,  and  to  our 
loving  Heavenly  Father,  for  having  appointed  you  as  our 
guardians,  who  reason  with  us  so  wisely  that  we  can  not 
help  but  admit  that  your  views,  if  carried  out,  would  lead  us 
to  genuine  happiness,"  said  Agnes ;  Myra,  and  Blanche  fully 
assenting. 

Breakfast  being  over,  the  young  ladies  repaired  to  their 
rooms  to  put  on  their  "business  suits,"  made  of  a  good  quality 
of  alapaca.  The  skirt  was  just  long  enough  for  the  wearer, 
and  very  full ;  the  plaits  were  equally  divided ;  the  waist 
was  made  so  as  to  button  in  front,  and  the  rear  part  was 
sewed  to  the  skirt.  This  enabled  each  young  lady  to  dress 
herself  without  the  help  of  another.  The  sleeves  were  not 
too  tight  nor  flouncing,  with  no  trimming  whatever,  except 
a  few  pretty  jet  buttons. 

"  Myra  and  Blanche,"  said  Agnes,  "  please  give  me  now  all 
your  corsets,  all  your  false  hair  and  stuffing,  and  your  gart- 
ers. I  will  pack  and  store  them  away,  never  to  be  touched 
by  us  again  as  a  matter  of  ornament  or  dress.  Here,"  and 
she  handed  to  each  sister  a  strip  of  elastic  full  an  inch  in 
width  and  about  half  a  yard  long,  with  a  well-made  button- 
hole at  each  end,  "  takie  this  as  a  good  substitute  for  a  garter. 
You  will  find  on  your  hose  a  button  which  I  have  sewed 
there,  and  also  a  button  on  the  upper  part  of  your  pantalets. 
By  buttoning  this  strip  of  elastic  to  the  hose  and  the  other 
button  referred  to,  you  will  find  it  will  keep  the  hose  up 
better  than  a  garter,  and  not  hinder  the  circulation  of  the 
blood." 

The  sisters  smiled  at  the  pains  Agnes  had  taken  to  find  a 
good  substitute  for  the  garters,  and  thanked  her  for  her 
great  thoughtful  ness.  They  then  brought  their  corsets,  false 
hair  and  stuffing  which  used  to  make  up  "  the  love  of  a 


322  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

waterfall.  "  By  storing  this  useless  appendage  away  we 
show  to  each  other  and  to  the  world  that  we  are  emanci- 
pated from  that  greatest  of  tyrants,  '  Fashion,' "  said  Myra 
and  Blanche,  with  great  earnestness. 

Agnes  replied  :  "  Yes,  my  dear  sisters,  we  are  emancipated, 
and  this  emancipation  will  improve  our  health  and  our  use- 
fulness ;  now  let  us  dress."  In  less  than  no  time  they  were 
found  in  their  comfortable  dresses.  "  What  a  blessing  to 
have  so  loose  a  garment  on  one's  body  !  O,  that  corset !  how 
it  used  to  imprison  my  lungs!  and  the  waterfall!  it  was 
awful  to  wear  it  and  the  false  hair  !" 

Myra  and  Blanche  both  agreed  that  Agnes  was  right. 

There  was  a  light  knock  on  the  door.  Myra  opened.  It 
was  grandfather. 

"  Come  in,"  said  she,  with  all  her  natural  grace. 

The  grandfather  was  perfectly  delighted  when  he  saw  his 
granddaughters  in  their  business  suits. 

"  Now  you  look  like  girls  who  can  do  something,  and  not 
be  incumbered  with — what  you  call  it?" 

"A  waterfall,"  answered  Agnes. 

"  And  be  laced  so  tight  that  you  can  hardly  breathe,  and  have 
hoop-skirts  and  other  fixings  to  load  you  down.  Now  you 
are  dressed  like  sensible  girls,  and  when  you  will  have  your 
hair  cut,  your  toilet  will  be  O.  K.  But,  by  the  way,  Baun- 
tain,  the  barber,  is  waiting.  "Where  do  you  wish  to  have  your 
hair  cut?" 

"  In  the  adjoining  room,"  answered  Blanche. 

The  grandfather  left  to  conduct  the  useful  artist  to  the 
room  mentioned.  Mr.  Bauntain,  being  naturally  a  close  ob- 
server, could  not  help  uttering,  when  he  passed  through  the 
grandly  furnished  rooms  : 

"  Splendid !     Splendid !" 

The  grandfather  heard  him,  and  said  : 

"  Mr.  Bauntain,  they  are  too  splendidly  furnished.  It  is 
the  misfortune  of  our  day  to  have  everything  so  splendid, 
and  it  is  another  reason  that  you  have  so  many  old  bachelors 


A  TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  323 

to  shave — I  would  not  say  to  cut  their  hair,  for  unmarried 
men  become  quicker  bald  headed  than  single  men." 

"That's  so,  that's  so!"  exclaimed  Mr.  Bauntain. 

When  they  entered  the  room,  they  found  Miss  Agnes  al- 
ready waiting.  The  barber  was  taken  by  surprise  to  see 
Agnes  in  so  plain  and  matter-of-fact  dress,  for  he  had  known 
her  since  her  childhood,  and  her  hair  had  never  been  cut  by 
any  other  hands  than  his. 

Miss  Agnes  noticed  the  barber's  surprise,  and  said  : 

"I  presume  you  are  surprised  at  my  plain  and  unassum- 
ing dress.  Well,  I  and  my  sisters  have  got  rid  of  vanity, 
and, 

"  Fools  are  vain, 
The  wise  are  plain." 

We  wish  to  become  wise  and  useful,  and  hence  our  dress  will 
be  such  as  is  most  convenient  and  consistent  with  our  health ; 
besides,  we  will  not  lose  so  much  time,  and  what  is  still 
better,  our  thoughts  will  not  be  occupied  so  much  with  fin- 
eries and  dress.  Fashion,  nowadays,  compels  women  to  con- 
sume two-thirds  of  their  time  in  dressing  and  undressing. 
No  wonder  they  neglect  the  higher  duties  which  they  owe 
to  God  and  their  families." 

Bauntain,  who  had  been  listening  with  his  ears  wide  open, 
said  : 

"Miss  Agnes,  I  have  seen  a  great  many  changes  in  this 
city  since  I  am  established  in  business,  but  such  a  change  I 
did  not  expect  to  see  and  hear.  I  must  admit  that  I  often 
thought  you  dressed  too  gay  and  extravagantly ;  a  virtuous 
citizen's  daughter  has  no  business  to  dress  like  — "  he  did 
not  finish  his  sentence,  but  went  on  cutting  the  hair  more 
lively,  noticing  the  mistake  he  made,  for  he  was  talking  to 
a  young  lady,  and  not  to  a  young  man. 

Agnes  noticed  his  embarrasment,  and  kindly  said  : 

"  I  know  what  you  mean,  and  you  are  right,  too.  But  you 
will  never  see  us  dressed  so  gaily  again,  for  we  are  going  to 
constantly  occupy  our  time,  either  in  the  store  as  clerks,  or  at 
the  house  as  cooks  and  chambermaids." 


321  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

"  Miss  Agnes,  you  do  not  mean  to  say  that  you  and  your 
sisters  will  work  as  clerks,  cooks,  and  chambermaids  in  the 
house  of  your  father  !"  exclaimed  the  astonished  barber. 

"Exactly!  just  what  I  mean,"  answered  the  young  lady, 
promptly. 

"Now I  have  again  confidence  in  our  ministers,  since  they 
have  succeeded  in  rescuing  three  sisters  from  that  baneful 
sin,  vanity." 

"  No  ministers  had  anything  to  do  with  our  reform.  Our 
good  father,  mother,  and  grandfather  reasoned  with  us  until 
we  were  convinced  to  be  the  worst  slaves  on  earth,  when  wor- 
shiping fashion." 

"  So,  the  ministers  had  nothing  to  do  with  your  reform?" 
asked  the  barber,  in  a  tone  as  if  lost  in  thought. 

"Nothing  at  all,"  answered  Agnes,  promptly. 

"  You  will  perhaps  smile  when  I  say  that  nine-tenths  of  all 
our  ministers  pocket  their  good  salary,  and  give  their  con- 
gregations nothing  in  return  but  discord;  one-half  of  the 
congregation  is  dissatisfied  with  the  minister,  for  they  feel 
that  they  are  being  humbugged;  the  other  half  like  the  min- 
ister who  natters  their  vanity.  It  is  the  old  story,  that  when 
the  people  quarrel  among  themselves,  the  tyrant  rules  and 
cheats.  It  makes  me  sad  and  angry  to  see  the  doings  of  our 
ministers." 

"  Mr.  Bauntain,  ain't  you  mistaken  when  you  say  that  the 
ministers  are  not  doing  anything  for  the  welfare  of  the  peo- 
ple? Don't  I  read,  almost  every  day,  that  they  assemble  in 
convention  to  consult  how  best  to  advance  and  implant  re- 
ligious feelings  in  their  fellow-beings?  There  is  a  synod 
here,  and  a  synod  there." 

"Yes,  our  ministers  like  to  travel,  and  to  be  away  from 
home ;  beside,  they  have  no  expenses.  They  manage,  some- 
bow  or  the  other,  to  get  a  free  pass  on  the  railroad,  and  quar- 
ter themselves  in  the  slickest  manner,  in  some  good  family. 
They  assemble  in  convention,  but  accomplish  nothing  but 
discord,  and  the  best  part  of  our  population  lose  their  respect 
for  the  ministers  when  they  read  the  proceedings  of  the  con- 


A   TALE    OF    REAL    LIFE.  325 

vention,  and  the  foolish  resolutions  they  adopt.  You  see, 
Miss  Agnes,  I  am  a  religious  man,  who  thinks,  who  reflects, 
and  observes  as  he  goes  along.  I  read,  and  I  listen  to  the 
remarks  my  customers  make,  and  they  are  of  the  best  of 
society.  My  shop  i$  visited  by  aged  judges,  by  the  ablest 
lawyers,  by  the  greatest  bankers,  by  the  best  merchants,  by 
our  prominent  manufacturers,  and  promising  young  men, 
and  they  talk  among  themselves,  and  even  to  me,  about  these 
things.  I  don't  think  much  of  those  synods  and  conventions. 
All  the  benefit  mankind  derives  from  them  I  can  put  under 
my  finger  nail." 

Agnes  said  :  "  Please  be  quick,  Mr.  Bauntain,  for  my  pa 
wishes  us  to  be  punctual  at  the  store." 

Mr.  Bauntain  used  his  scissors  vigorously,  and  in  a  few 
moments  Agnes  was  done,  who  said  when  leaving  the  chair : 
"  How  light  and  nice  my  head  feels  !" 

Myra  took  her  turn.  When  taking  her  seat  the  barber 
said:  "  Why,  Miss  Myra  how  tall  you  are  growing;  if  you 
keep  on  you  will  be  the  tallest,  and  even  the  hand- 
somest of  your  sisters. 

"  Yes,  I  am  growing  tall,  and  beautiful,"  answered  Myra, 
naively.  "It  is  because  I  am  cooking,  washing,  ironing, 
scrubbing,  sweeping  and  dusting  the  rooms;  and  do  it 
gladly." 

",Do  you  recollect  when  I  for  the  first  time  cut  your  hair  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  do  ;  I  was  so  afraid,  and  cried  ;  and  you  ga,ve  me 
a  stick  of  candy,  which  I  threw  away,  for  fear  of  soiling  my 
dress,"  said  Miss  Myra,  smiling. 

"  I  recollect  it  well,  and  since  that  day  I  have  not  offered 
a  stick  of  candy  to  the  children,  but  tried  to  pacify  them 
with  words.  Yes,"  said  he,  as  if  speaking  to  himself,  "I  am 
the  barber  who  has  seen  a  generation  grow  up  and  a  genera- 
tion go  down  to  their  final  resting  place,  leaving  nothing  to 
posterity  but  an  elaborate  grave-stone,  which  their  money 
has  purchased.  There  is  old  Mr.  Bottwell,  now  lying  very 
low;  how  much  good  could  that  man  have  done  with  his  tal- 
ent and  wealth,  to  the  community  at  large  I" 


326  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

Grandfather  Hunting  now  entered  the  room.     "  Please  be 
quick,  Mr.  Bauntain,  the  girls  must  be  punctual  at  their  busi- 


The  barber  set  to  work ;  the  old  fire  of  youthful  energy, 
seemed  to  have  been  awakened  within  him,  by  those  few 
words,  and  in  less  than  no  time  Miss  Myra  and  Miss  Blanche 
had  their  hair  nicely  cut.  They  looked  like  boys,  but  pretty, 
nevertheless. 

Mr  Bauntain  was  going  to  leave,  when  Mrs.  Hunting  en- 
tered the  room  and  requested  him  to  wait  until  she  had 
seen  her  daughters  off,  since  she  wished  to  have  her 
hair  cut  also  by  him. 

The  barber,  when  alone,  gave  vent  to  his  feelings  : 

Well!  well !  well !  "What  next  ?  Mrs.  Hunting  too,  to  go 
without  a  waterfall !" 

The  same  carriage,  with  the  same  horses,  and  the  same 
coachman,  which  grandly  wheeled  before  the  palatial  mansion 
of  Edward  Hunting,  Esq.,  at  the  opening  part  of  Our  Pros- 
pects, wheeled  again  before  this  gentleman's  residence,  with 
the  only  change  that  there  was  no  livery.  The  door  opens. 
Three  young  ladies  appear  ;  they  are  the  same  :  Agnes,  Myra 
aud  Blanche.  But  how  different  is  now  their  dress ;  they 
have  laid  aside  those  rich  silk  dresses  and  velvet  cloaks  j 
those  rich  head  coverings  and  corsets,  and  false  hair — 
"Which  importation 
Impoverishes  this  nation. 

And  which  is  one  of  the  main  causes  why  our  young  people 
can  not  marry  when  the  time  arrives,  not  to  be  alone. 

But  were  they  less  beautiful  without  those  fineries,  which 
in  the  opening  part  of  this  Tale  of  Real  Life  were  so  highly 
valued  by  these  young  ladies  ?  Yes,  they  were  fully  as  beau- 
tiful, and  even  prettier  ;  for  health  bloomed  on  their  cheeks, 
and  kindness,  love  and  desire  to  be  useful,  shone  brightly 
from  their  eyes.  The  door  is  not  closed  quickly  after  them, 
for  Mrs.  Hunting  loves  now  her  daughters,  as  she  never 
loved  them  before.  They  are  no  longer  to  her  a  burden  of 
anxiety  and  oppressing  care ;  they  no  longer  tease  her  from 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  327 

morning  until  night  to  obtain  this  or  that ;  if  anything,  they 
say,  "  Ma,  we  can  do  without  it.  Let  us  keep  our  money  so 
that  our  noble  father  may  not  again  be  compelled  to  bend 
his  knees  before  the  cashier,  John  James  La  Monte,  to  ask  a 
favor,  and  be  refused.  No,"  said  they,  "let  us  keep  our 
money,  so  that  our  good  father  need  not  borrow  money  from 
anybody." 

The  mother  appeared  on  the  front  door-step  to  see  her 
daughters  off.  She  kissed  each  of  them  as  she  never  kissed 
them  before,  for  being  no  longer  a  vain  woman,  her  love  was 
not  divided,  but  concentrated.  She  loved  her  husband  and 
her  children  with  her  whole  heart  and  soul,  and  this  same 
holy  love  made  her  also  love  her  neighbors  ;  "  for  were  they 
not  also  husbands,  wives,  fathers  and  mothers,  with  cares 
and  hopes  like  herself?" 

It  is  an  undeniable  fact  that  neither  man  nor  woman  can 
sincerely  feel  for  their  fellow-beings,  unless  they  are  hap- 
pily married,  and  blessed  with  good  children ;  only  when  the 
husband  becomes  a  father,  or  the  wife  a  mother,  are  the 
nobler  feelings  fully  awakened  within  them,  and  they  become 
less  selfish,  and  more  benevolent  and  forgiving. 

Mrs.  Hunting  again  and  again  kissed  her  daughters.  She 
was  almost  moved  to  tears — tears  of  joy — to  have  daughters 
who  were  willing  to  assist  their  father  in  earning  the  means 
for  their  living. 

The  grandfather,  too,  entered  the  carriage.  He  was  the 
happiest  of  all,  for  he  was  the  minister  who  reformed  them  ; 
who  cleansed  them  of  their  vanity  and  made  of  them  rea- 
sonable human  beings,  who  are  not  a  curse,  but  a  blessing  to 
each  other.  His  lips  moved  in  prayer,  for  he  gave  thanks 
to  God,  who  has  created  everything  perfect. 

The  horses  were  about  starting  when  Myra  said  : 

"Ma,  you  need  not  do  anything  in  the  kitchen.  As  soon 
as  I  receive  my  pocket  ledger  and  instructions,  I  will  come 
back  and  prepare  the  dinner,  for  to-day  is  my  turn,"  and 
happiness  illuminated  her  beautiful  face. 


328  OUR    PROSPECTS. 

"  Tom,  drive  slowly,"  said  tho  grandfather,  "  for  I  can  not 
stand  fast  driving." 

Tom  drew  in  the  reins  at  once,  and  the  spirited  horses 
strode  proudly  through  the  streets.  Hundreds  of  pedes- 
trians stopped,  looking  astonished  to  see  the  young  ladies  in 
their  plain  dress,  for  in  this  land  of  extravagance  such  plain 
attire  as  the  young  ladies  wore  was  an  unusual  sight,  and  it 
attracted  great  attention.  Among  those  who  observed  the 
carriage  and  tho  occupants,  was  also  Miss  Viola  La  Monte; 
who  was  out  shopping,  buying  her  wedding  outfit. 

"  Why,  said  she,  "  those  are  the  Huntings !  how  reduced 
they  look.  Am  I  not  a  fortunate  girl  to  have  a  rich  father 
and  grandfather,  and  my  Otto,  a  millionaire?  I  am  sorry 
that  sister  Rosalind  would  not  go  with  me,  to  assist  me  in 
selecting  my  wedding  dress.  It  is  strange  that  Rosalind 
would,  under  no  consideration,  leave  the  house,  even  when 
mother  commanded  her,  It  is  strange,  for  she  is  usually  so 
obedient." 

When  they  reached  the  business  place  of  Edward  Hunting 
his  daughters  left  the  carriage,  and  were  about  entering  the 
private  office,  wh'en  one  of  the  clerks  respectfully  informed 
them  that  they  could  not  enter,  as  Mr.  Hunting  had  given 
orders  not  to  be  disturbed  by  any  callers. 

"Would  you  please  announce  us?"  said  the  grandfather, 
handing  the  young  clerk  his  card. 

The  clerk  returned  and  said :  "  In  a  few  moments  you 
may  enter. 

When  they  finally  entered  the  office  the  young  ladies 
noticed  Overbeck  and  Fastleben,  who  left  by  the  rear  door; 
and  it  seemed  to  them  as  if  they  had  been  weeping.  They 
heard  their  father  say,  in  a  somewhat  excited  tone  and 
manner :  "  Remember,  you  can  only  enter  again  this  house 
and  ask  for  an  interview,  by  making  the  solemn  promise." 

Mr.  Hunting  received  his  father  with  marked  respect,  and 
turning  to  his  daughters  he  said :  "Now,  daughters,  when 
working  in  the  store  you  can  not  look  upon  me  as  your 
father,  but  as  your  employer,  your  chief ;  who  expects  that 


A   TALE   OF    REAL   LIFE.  329 

every  one  does  his  duty.  It  is  against  my  business  rules  to 
allow  my  employees  to  chat  together,  or  to  read  newspapers 
during  business  hours.  Nobody  can  leave  the  business  during 
that  time,  without  my  permission  ;  and  in  my  absence,  Mr. 
Wilkins  will  replace  me.  I  dislike  tell-tales,  but  expect  to 
bo  promptly  informed  of  any  willful  negligence,  or  even  dis- 
honesty. Here  are  your  ledgers,  with  the  necessary  memo- 
randa. Now,  try  to  master,  as  soon  as  possible,  your  duties, 
each  in  your  respective  department. 

"  Charles,"  continued  the  father,  "  show  Miss  Agnes,  Miss 
Myra  and  Miss  Blanche  Hunting  the  wardrobe,  where  they 
can  put  their  shawls,  hats  and  parasols ;  show  them,  also,  the 
stock  in  each  department ;  when  that  is  done,  Miss  Myra  has 
the  permission  to  return  and  prepare  dinner  for  the  family." 
Without  another  word,  he  left  them,  and  turned  toward  his 
bookkeeper,  asking,  "Did  the  mail  bring  us  any  particular 
news  to-day?" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  answered  the  bookkeeper, "Ira  P.  Sider  has 
failed,  but  he  does  not  owe  us  much.  I  kept  sending  him 
statement  after  statement,  and  drew  on  him  several  times  in 
sums  that  I  thought  he  could  pay;  and  so  his  indebtedness 
to  the  house  has  been  considerably  reduced." 

The  grandfather  and  Myra  came  now,  to  say,  that  they  were 
going  home.  The  son  escorted  his  father  to  the  carriage 
with  the  utmost  reverence  and  respect. 

At  the  door  stood  Overbeck  and  Fastleben,  crest-fallen. 
Myra  noticed  it  as  she  stepped  in  the  carriage,  and  felt  a 
deep  sympathy  for  them,  especially  for  Overbeck.  She 
thought  mentally,  "  How  different  those  young  gentlemen  ap- 
pear to-day  than  when  they  called  on  us  last  New  Year's. 
But  do  not  I  look  different  too,  and  how  authoritatively  pa 
spoke  to  us,  but  I  presume  it  is  all  for  the  best." 

Overbeck  and  Fastleben,  after  a  very  animated  conversa- 
tion, returned  to  the  store,  and  asked  permission  to  see  Mr. 
Hunting  in  his  private  office,  which  was  promptly  granted. 

On  entering,  they  found  Mr.  Hunting  busy  writing,  but  he 


330  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

laid  down  his  pen  and  said:  "  Have  you  reflected  on  my  lec- 
ture, for  a  lecture  it  Was  ?" 

"  We  have,  sir,"  answered  both,  with  one  voice,  and  Over- 
beck  continued,  "  you  have  spoken  to  us  like  a  good  father, 
and  we  now  see  that  we  have  been  living  fast,  and  that  if  we 
do  not  at  once  change  our  habits,  our  prospects  to  gain  suc- 
cess in  life  will  grow  dim ;  we  now  solemnly  swear  before 
God,  and  you,  noble  sir,  as  our  witness,"  and  Overbeck  and 
Fastleben  lifted  up  their  right  hands,  and  said  in  a  tremulous 
voice,  "  we  now  solemnly  swear,  that  we  will  never  drink  any 
intoxicating  beverages;  that  we  will  never  play  cards  or 
make  any  bets,  that  we  will  sincerely  endeavor  to  lead  a  vir- 
tuous life,  and  to  be  truthful  men  before  God  and  our 
fellow-beings.  Amen." 

"  So  may  God  help  you,"  responded  Mr.  Edward  Hunting, 
drying  the  tears  in  his  eyes. 

' "  Will  you  be  so  kind  as  to  give  us  a  letter  of  recommenda- 
tion, since  we  intend  to  go  to  the  far  West,  to  find  employ- 
ment, and  get  a  fresh  start,"  asked  the  young  men. 

"  I  will  do  more  than  that.  You  may  go  out  West  and  find 
a  good  place  which  promises  to  become  a  large  city,  and 
there  start  a  business  under  the  name  of  "  Overbeck  &  Fast- 
leben," but  without  being  fast.  I  will  advance  each  of  you 
the  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars,  take  your  individual  note, 
payable  at  my  option,  bearing  three  per  cent,  interest  per  an- 
num, said  interest  to  be  punctually  paid  every  three  months. 
This  will  give  you  a  cash  capital  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  I 
will,  if  necessary,  give  you  also  a  credit  of  five  thousand  dol- 
lars in  my  house,  on  one,  two,  three  and  four  months'  time, 
and  let  you  have  the  benefit  of  my  influence  in  the  market; 
all  this  will  I  do  for  you,  if  you  will  henceforth  be  and  act 
like  men,  of  whom  their  relatives,  acquaintances  and  country 
can  be  proud,"  said  the  kind-hearted  Mr.  Hunting. 

Overbeck  and  Fastleben  were  quite  overcome  with  the 
great  generosity  of  their  noble  benefactor,  and  thanking  him 
again  and  again,  they  bid  him  and  all  their  former  colleagues, 
and  also  to  the  new  clerks,  Miss  Agnes  and  Miss  Blanche, 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  331 

an  affectionate  good-by.  All  wished  them  a  safe  journey 
and  great  success.  Blanche  said  to  Fastleben  :  "  I  will  pray 
for  you."  "  Do,"  answered  the  young  man,  greatly  moved 
by  the  young  lady's  kindness.  Another  affectionate  shake 
with  their  hands;  and  waving  their  hats,  they  quickly  went 
to  the  hotel,  packed  their  trunks,  and  started  for  the  /ar,  far 
West,  where  a  new  empire  is  rising  as  if  by  magic,  by  the 
hands  and  brains  of  men  who  have  been  fast  in  their  living} 
but  are  fast  no  more. 


CHAPTEK    XIY. 

What  could  he  see  but  mightily  he  noted; 

What  did  he  note  but  strongly  he  desir'd; 

What  he  beheld,  on  that  he  firmly  doted, 

And  in  his  will  his  willful  eye  he  tir'd. 

With  more  than  admiration  he  adrnir'd 
Her  azure  veins,  her  alabaster  skin, 
Her  coral  lips,  her  snow-white  dimpled  chin. 

— Shakespeare. 

BAUNTAIN,  the  great  artist  of  the  razor  and  shears,  the 
acute  observer  and  pleasant  chatter,  cut  the  hair  of  Mrs. 
Hunting  just  as  she  directed,  who  said :  "People  will  think 
it  very  strange,  when  they  see  me,  with  my  hair  cut  short, 
wearing  a  hat  without  feathers;  a  plain,  becoming  dress, 
without  trimmings,  and  wearing  no  jewelry.  They  may 
think  what  they  please,  but  I  think  it  to  be  the  duty  of 
every  mother  to  dress  plain,  to  do  without  those  many  fixings 
women  wear  nowadays.  My  noble  husband,  and  his  noble 
old  father,  have  reasoned  with  me,  and  convinced  me  that  we 
ladies,  who  are  looked  upon  as  the  leaders  of  fashion,  can 
render  humanity  a  lasting  benefit  by  not  dressing  extrava- 
gantly, and 'not  giving  our  daughters  an  example  to  have  their 
minds  continually  occupied  with  dress,  show  and  vanity, 


332  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

which  undermines  their  health,  and  unfits  them  for  practical 
life."  And  she  continued,  with  greater  energy :  "  My 
daughters  shall  henceforth  only  aim  to  become  useful  mem- 
bers of  society.  Dress  and  show  shall  be  with  them  the  last 
consideration.  They  will  earn  their  money,  and  spend  it 
only  judiciously,  and  for  good  purposes.  This  carnival  of 
extravagance  and  vanity  must  be  rooted  out,  or  else  our  land 
will  become  a  second  Sodom." 

The  able  barber  listened  with  delight,  and  exclaimed : 
"Mrs.  Hunting,  you  have  spoken  golden  words.  Oh!  that  I 
had  the  power  to  write  your  words  on  the  sun  and  moon,  so 
that  all  could  see  them !  I  would  do  it,  even  at  the  sacrifice 
of  my  life,  for  matters  have  greatly  changed,  for  the  worse, 
since  I  had  the  honor  to  comb  your  hair,  on  your  wedding 
day." 

"  Yes,  we  have  retrograded  in  true  civilization,  for  demora- 
lization has  gained  the  upper  hand ;  honesty  is  poorly  re- 
warded, and  rascality,  on  a  grand  scale,  goes  unpunished, 
and  is  even  allowed." 

"That's  so!  that's  so!"  ejaculated  the  hair-cutter. 
"  There  is  a  merchant — we  have  one  in  this  city — who  buys  a 
million  dollars  worth  of  goods,  and  sells  them  cheaper  than 
his  honest  competitors  can  buy  them  for.  They  lose  half 
their  trade,  and  only  with  great  difficulty  meet  their  engage- 
ments, and  pay  their  expenses.  But  that  merchant  who 
bought  a  million  dollars  worth  of  goods,  and  sold  them 
twenty  per  cent,  below  cost,  fails,  settles  with  twenty  cents 
on  the  dollar,  pockets  five  or  six  hundred  thousand  dollars 
by  the  operation,  and  holds  his  head  as  high  as  anybody, 
notwithstanding  his  great  rascality — for  a  rascality  it  is,  to 
ruin  a  dozen  honest  merchants,  whose  families  are  reduced 
even  to  beggary ;  yet,  still,  that  merchant  who  failed  for  a 
million,  who  planned  to  fail,  with  a  view  of  making  money 
out  of  it,  is  received  with  open  arms  in  the  best  society. 
The  Mayor  of  the  city,  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  the 
Board  of  Trade,  appoint  him  on  committees  of  honor ;  and 
what  is  still  worse,  that  same  rascal  of  a  merchant  can  go 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE."  333 

again  in  the  market  and  buy  on  credit  from  the  identical 
firms  (with  a  few  exceptions),  whom  he  had  swindled — for  a 
swindle  it  was  ;  and  they  will  receive  him  friendly,  and  even 
flatter  him,  and  pat  him.  If  that  is  not  mercantile  demorali- 
zation of  the  worst  kind,  then  I  don't  know  what  is.  If  that 
is  the  fruit  of  our  modern  civilization,  then  we  ought  to  be 
ashamed  of  it,  and  I,  a  poor  barber,  am  ashamed  of  it." 

Mrs.  Hunting  made  no  remarks,  but  reflected  on  what  the 
barber  said.  " That  Bauntain,"  she  thought  to  herself,  "is 
quite  an  able  man,  and  he  is  right  in  what  he  said ;  no  doubt 
there  are  thousands  who  think  like  him,  but  they  have  not 
the  moral  courage  to  say  it  before  the  public,  and  condemn 
such  cheats,  for  cheats  they  are." 

"How  is  Charley?"  asked  the  barber,  showing  great 
interest. 

"  He  is  doing  splendidly  since  he  returned  from  the  Lakes." 

"Is  he?  I  am  truly  glad  to  hear  it;  he  is  such  a  fine 
looking  young  man ;  but  how  did  it  happen  that  he  reformed? 
Did  our  ministers  influence  him?" 

"Yes,"  interrupted  Mrs.  Hunting,  "our  ministers  influ- 
enced him  to  become  what  he  was,  our  ministers  ruined 
him !"  exclaimed  she,  in  an  angry  tone. 

"Well,  well.  1  have  heard  and  seen  in  the  public  press, 
that  ministers  have  ruined  girls,  or  have  taken  undue  liber- 
ties with  married  ladies,  but  to  have  ruined  young  men,  I 
have  never  heard  before." 

"  Charley  was  ruined  through  their  example." 

"Now  I  see,  now  I  see,"  exclaimed  the  barber,  lifting  his 
long  shears  upward.  "  I  am  a  man  of  peace,  but  I  really  feel 
that  I  could  stab  such  a  priest  without  mercy." 

"  Then  you  would  have  a  good  deal  of  stabbing  to  do," 
exclaimed  grandfather  Hunting,  who  had  entered  the  room, 
unobserved,  "for  there  is  no  class  needing  as  much  purifica-. 
tion  and  looking  after  as  the  ministers  of  our  day." 

Bauntain  looked  up,  surprised  but  pleased,  and  said : 
"Among  the  many  gentlemen  who  have  their  hair  cut  and 
shaved  at  my  shop  is  also  a  detective,  of  great  experience. 


334  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

He,  knowing  that  I  am  a  religious  man,  gave  me  some  in- 
formation about  the  dark  doings  of  our  ministers',  which 
made  me  shudder.  I  protested  and  contended  that  he  was 
mistaken,  but  the  detective  assured  me  it  was  the  plain  truth. 
Ever  since  I  have  watched  the  ministers  pretty  closely  and 
have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  detective  told  me  the 
plain  truth;  and  your  remarks,  Mr.  Hunting,  have  still  more 
confirmed  me  in  this  belief.  Well,  well,  I  don't  know  what 
will  become  of  the  morals  of  the  age,  if  some  one  does  not 
call  the  attention  of  the  people  to  this  growing  evil." 

Having  finished  his  work,  he  put  up  his  tools,  and  Mrs. 
Hunting  took  a  twenty  dollar  bill,  saying:  "Please  take 
these  twenty  dollars,  deduct  from  it  what  I  owe  you  for  your 
services,  and  the  balance  give  to  some  worthy  poor." 

"Keally  you  are  very  kind  to  appoint  me  to  distribute 
your  charity,  you  better " 

Mrs.  Hunting  interrupted  him,  and  said :  "  I  will  consider 
it  a  personal  favor  if  you  will  take  the  trouble  and  give  the 
balance  of  the  bill  to  such  persons  as  you  think  are  deserving 
of  help  and  assistance." 

Bauntain  made  no  further  objection,  took  the  money, 
thanked  the  kind  Mrs.  Hunting,  and  promised  to  see  that 
the  money  should  be  used  for  the  right  person.  He  made  a 
respectful  bow  and  left  for  his  business. 

As  soon  as  he  had  left,  the  grandfather  said:  "I  have  known 
that  barber  thirty-five  years.  He  has  the  best  memory  of  any 
man  I  ever  have  seen ;  he  is  a  close  observer,  a  deep  thinker, 
and  what  is  more,  has  the  moral  courage  to  say  what  he 
thinks.  I  am  glad  he  is  the  barber  of  the  family  for  he  is  a 
deserving  man." 

"He  is  a  gentleman  and  does  his  craft  great  honor,"  re- 
marked Mrs.  Hunting. 

.   Bauntain,  on  reaching  his  shop,  found  all  the  chairs  occu- ; 
pied,  and  Mr.  John  James  La  Monte  waiting.     He  was  very 
much  pleased  to  have  a  chance  to  inform  Mr.  La  Monte  of  < 
Charles  Hunting  having  reformed,  for  he  had  heard  a  rumor 
that  the  young  man  and  Miss  Eosalind  La  Monte  were  in 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  335 

love,  but  for  some  unknown  reason,  no  engagement  had 
been  formed.  He  felt  now  happy  to  have  an  opportunity  to 
speak  highly  of  the  young  man  to  the  father  of  the  loved 
maiden.  But  Mr.  La  Monte  was  very  reserved  that  morn- 
ing. The  barber  had  hardly  soaped  his  face,  when  Jim  en- 
tered, and  approaching  Mr.  La  Monte,  whispered  in  his 
ear,  "  that  Mrs.  Wehlen  had  ordered  him  to  take  the  fastest 
horse  and  ride  down  town,  to  tell  Mr.  La  Monte  to  come 
home  immediately." 

Mr.  La  Monte  felt  greatly  alarmed,  for  something  extra- 
ordinary must  have  happened  at  his  house,  or  Mrs.  Wehlen 
would  not  have  sent  for  him  ;  yet  alarmed  as  he  was  he  gave 
no  sign  of  it,  whatsoever;  and  said  calmly,  "Jim,  wait  till  I 
am  done.  Mr.  Bauntain,  please  shave  me  as  quick  as  you 
possibly  can." 

There  was  no  chance  for  a  chat,  and  in  a  few  minutes  Mr. 
La  Monte  was  shaved.  He  turned  to  Jim,  and  said  :  "  Eide 
home  and  hire  a  carriage  of  the  nearest  livery  stable,  to  be 
in  readiness  at  the  gate  of  my  house  as.  soon  as  I  arrive." 

He  then  went  to  some  ticket  offices,  made  a  purchase,  and 
drove  home  in  his  buggy  as  fast  as  his  horse  would  trot. 
Beaching  his  house  he  tied  his.  horse  outside  the  gate,  and 
tried  to  reach  his  residence  from  the  rear  part,  unobserved, 
for  Mr.  La  Monte  had  his  suspicions  aroused,  that  Count 
Louis  was  endeavoring  to  win  the  good  graces  of  his  wife. 
He  had  observed  the  Count  speaking,  so  to  say,  with  his 
eyes  to  his  wife,  and  would  gladly  have  got  rid  of  the  visitors, 
but  they  prolonged  their  stay  under  the  excuse  that  they 
expected  remittances  from  their  father,  and  beside,  to 
have  the  Counts  stay  at  his  house  gave  such  a  splendor  to 
his  family.  The  whole  aristocratic  community,  including 
every  member  of  the  upper  tenths,  envied  the  La  Montes,  to 
be  so  fortunate  as  to  have  the  noble  Counts  as  guests  at  their 
house.  From  far  and  near  came  the  aristocrats  in  their 
carriages,  dressed  up  in  their  finest  garments  and  shining 
with  costly  jewels,  to  pay  their  respects  to  the  La  Montes 
and  their  distinguished  visitors. 


336  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

Mrs.  La  Monte,  the  born  Bottwell,  was  now  in  her  glory. 
"What  was  her  husband?  a  nobody,  a  washwoman's  son, 
and  here  were  those  Counts  of  whom  the  whole  world — the 
world  she  cared  for — made  such  lions  of,  and  one  of  the 
Counts  loved  her,  for  Count  Louis  bad  learned  seven  English 
words,  so  very  dear  to  women  like  Mrs.  La  Monte,  the  born 
Bottwell,  who  was  born  in  vanity,  raised  in  vanity,  preached 
to  in  vanity,  who  worshiped  in  vanity,  worshiped  vanity  It- 
self, and  was  vanity  all  over.  Such  women  are  ripe  and 
ready  to  give  their  all,  the  most  sacred  on  earth,  to  the  first 
flatterer  who  comes  along  and  uses  slickly  the  seven  English 
words  which  the  Count,  Louis  La  Monte,  knew  now  by 
heart,  and  which  he  uttered  as  often  as  opportunity  would 
permit: 

"  You  are  very  beautiful!    I  love  you!" 

But  he  had  not  often  the  opportunity  to  say  those  seven 
words,  so  very  precious  to  Mrs.  La  Monte,  the  born  Bottwell, 
for  her  daughter  Eosalind,  who  was  raised  under  the  true 
religious  care  of  the  good  Mrs.  Wehlen,  was  always  with  her 
mother,  as  a  protecting  guardian.  Think  of  it,  reader,  what 
a  state  of  affairs,  when  the  daughter  has  to  watch  over  her 
mother  to  prevent  her  from  committing  a  sin,  which,  next  to 
murder,  is  the  greatest;  and  what  was  worse  than  all,  that 
mother  was  displeased  with  Eosalind's  presence,  and  sent  her 
on  all  kinds  of  errands,  which  the  noble  Eosalind  tried  to 
avoid,  and  remained  on  guard,  with  her  eyes  and  ears  wide 
open. 

The  Count  Louis  hated  the  very  sight  of,  that  noble  girl ; 
she  was  in  his  way,  and  he  determined  to  get  rid  of  her  for 
once.  What  did  he  do?  When  all  were  sitting  at  the  supper 
table  he  excused  himself  for  a  moment.  He  then  quickly 
went  into  Miss  Eosalind's  room,  took  the  vial  which  contained 
the  deadly  poison,  opened  it,  and  let  the  poisonous  vapor 
soak  well  in  the  pillows  on  which  Eosalind,  our  dear  Eosalind, 
generally  slept.  "For  once  I  will  have  you  out  of  my  way  ; 
you  will  not  awake  before  to-morrow  noon,"  said  the  Count, 
to  whom  hundreds  of  the  so-called  aristocratic  families  would 


A   TALE    OF   REAL   LIFE.  337 

have  married  their  daughters  and  given  two-thirds  of  their 
property  besides,  in  preference  to  a  good  and  healthy  young 
citizen,  who  has  hands  to  work,  a  brain  to  think  and  invent, 
and  a  spotless  character. 

Count  Louis  returned  to  the  supper  table.  The  quick  eye 
of  Eosalind  readily  noticed  that  he  was  after  doing  some 
mischief;  but  seeing  her  mother  sitting  at  the  table  she  did 
not  feel  alarmed,  only  uneasy. 

Morning  dawned,  and  Mrs.  "Wehlen,  as  usually,  expected 
Miss  Eosalind  in  her  room,  who  generally  arose  before  the 
Counts  were  awake,  and  came  there  to  pray  with  Mrs.  Weh- 
len, thanking  God  for  his  many  graces,  and  imploring  the 
Most  High  to  protect  the  honor  of  the  wife  and  mother,  and 
to  save  their  house  from  evil.  They  also  had  come  to  some 
understanding  how  to  manage  to  keep  good  watch  on  the 
the  Count's  doings. 

Mrs.  Wehlen  was  very  uneasy  because  Eosalind  did  not 
come  as  usually.  She  went  to  the  young  lady's  room,  but 
found  the  door  closed.  "  Poor  girl,"  said  she ;  "  let  her  sleep, 
she  has  trouble  enough  ;  I  will  be  on  the  watch,  myself." 

Breakfast  was  ready  and  taken  without  Eosalind.  Mrs.  La 
Monte  was  glad,  and  said :  "  She  is  growing  so  pale,  she  don't 
rest  enough  ;  it  is  well  that  she  sleeps." 

After  breakfast,  Mr.  La  Monte,  his  son,  and  Yiola,  left  for 
down  town,  leaving  Mrs.  La  Monte,  the  Counts,  and  Eosalind' 
who  was  still  asleep,  at  home. 

Mrs.  La  Monte  repaired  to  her  bed-chamber,  and  the 
Count  Louis  La  Monte  had  the  impudence  soon  to  follow. 
Mrs.  Wehlen  duly  noticed  it,  and,  notwithstanding  her  great 
age,  she  run  to  the  kitchen,  took  hold  of  the  kettle  of  boil- 
ing hot  water,  and  rushing  in  the  bed-chamber,  she  caught  the 
Count  Louis  in  the  act  of  kissing  her  mistress. 

That  was  enough  for  Mrs.  Wehlen,  and,  with  the  fury  of  a 
lioness  who  defends  her  young,  she  exclaimed:  "You  good- 
for-nothing  scamp,  if  you  do  not  clear  out  of  this  room,  I  will 
scald  you  from  head  to  foot,  and  with  a  glowing  poker  burn 
your  good-for-nothing  eyes  out  of  your  carcass." 


338  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

Nothing  but  the  prompt  interference  of  Mrs.  La  Monte,  the 
born  Bottwell,  saved  the  noble  Count  La  Monte  from  being 
scalded,  and  he  took  a  hasty  retreat. 

Mrs.  Wehlen  now  turned  to  Mrs.  La  Monte,  and  said  to  her 
in  a  calm  tone :  "You  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  yourself,  as  a 
Christian  woman,  as  a  wife  and  a  mother,  to  allow  a  strange 
man  to  come  in  your  bed-room,  and  let  him  kiss  you." 

"I  could  not  help  it.  He  came  in  the  room  without  my 
knowing  it,  and  kissed  me,  just  for  fun,"  said  Mrs.  La 
Monte,  trying  to  make  light  of  what  had  happened. 

"  You  can  not  fool  me.  Your  vanity  listened  after  forbid- 
den fruit.  You  deserve  a  sound  spanking,  and  were  I  your 
mother,  I  would  give  it  to  you  right  smartly,"  said  Mrs. 
"Wehlen,  angrily.  She  gave  Mrs.  La  Monte  a  look  of  con- 
tempt, and  again  she  said :  "  Yes,  it  is  a  shame,  as  a  Christian 
woman,  to  act  as  you  do,"  and  with  those  words,  she  left  Mrs- 
La  Monte  to  herself,  went  to  the  stable  and  ordered  Jim,  who 
had  just  returned  from  the  city,  to  mount  the  fastest  horse, 
ride  to  the  city,  and  request  Mr.  La  Monte  to  come  home  at 
once.  She  was  now  anxiously  waiting  for  him.  As  soon  as 
she  saw  him,  she  ran  toward  him,  saying:  "Sir!  remove 
those  damn  Counts  from  the  house." 

Mr.  La  Monte  did  not  wait  to  hear  more,  for  if  Mrs.  Weh- 
len would  damn  the  Counts,  then  they  must  be  damnable 
fellows.  He  went  to  his  room,  took  his  revolver,  which  was 
loaded, .but  without  caps.  He  put  them  on,  and  thus  armed, 
went  to  the  rooms  of  the  Counts,  who  were  startled  when 
they  saw  their  host  coming.  They  had  seen  his  exploits  at 
target-shooting,  and  knew  him  to  be  a  dead  shot. 

Count  Louis,  in  his  great  alarm,  felt  for  the  steel  plate  on 
his  breast. 

"  You  villain,"  said  Mr.  La  Monte,  "  you  need  not  rely  on 
your  plate  of  steel,  for  I  will  shoot  you  through  your  brain, 
as  I  would  shoot  a  mad  dog  that  threatens  to  bite  me  or 
mine.  I  give  you  and  your  brother  just  five  minutes  time 
to  pack  up.  Now  betake  yourself,  or  you  will  never  leave 
these  rooms  alive."  Taking  but  his  watch,  he  exclaimed, 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  339 

with  a  firmness  that  made  them  tremble,  "  Four  and  a  half 
minutes  are  left  to  you !"  holding  the  watch  in  one  hand  and 
the  revolver  in  the  other,  aiming  at  their  heads. 

Never  were  trunks  packed  quicker  than  the  Counts  Louis 
and  Murat  La  Monte  packed  theirs,  that  morning.  "  Now," 
said  he,  "  I  have  bought  for  you  railroad  tickets  and  also  a 
passage  ticket,  via  Baltimore.  You  can  not  go  over  New 
York  and  Boston,  for  detectives  have  arrived  there.  You  are 
forgers — they  are  after  you.  You  will  therefore  leave  at  once 
for  Baltimore,  and  from  there  to  England,  under  an  assumed 
name,  and  under  no  consideration  do  I  allow  you  to  address 
me  or  any  member  of  my  family,  or  I  will  punish  you,  with 
this  my  unerring  revolver,  for  I  am  a  husband  and  a  father, 
who  knows  how  to  protect  the  home  of  those  who  are  his." 
The  blood  rushed  to  La  Monte's  head,  and  his  eyes  darted 
forth  a  fire  of  hatred,  before  which  the  Counts  trembled. 
"  Do  you  understand  me,  and  will  you  do  and  bear  in  mind 
what  I  say?" 

"Yes,  we  will,"  exclaimed  both,  fearing  the  aroused  lion 
before  them. 

Mr.  La  Monte  then  placed  two  of  his  fingers  in  his  mouth 
and  pi'oduced  such  a  loud  whistle,  that  it  could  have  been 
heard  for  miles.  Jim  knew  that  whistle ;  only  given  by 
his  employer  when  he  was  angry  or  in  great  haste.  He 
ran  up  to  the  room. 

Mr.  La  Monte  called  out  to  him: 

"Is  the  carriage  from  the  livery  stable  ready?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  it  is  at  the  gate." 

"  Then  assist  the  Counts  to  take  their  trunks  to  the  car- 
riage. There  is  no  time  for  ceremony.  They  have  received 
a  telegram  from  France  to  come  home.  Their  father  is  very 
sick." 

The  Counts  took  hold  of  the  baggage,  and  down  stairs  they 
went,  La  Monte  following  them  with  the  revolver  in  his  hand. 
Mrs.  La  Monte  saw  the  queer  procession  from  her  window, 
and  trembled  like  a  leaf,  for  her  husband  was  in  a  towering 


340  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

rage.  Eeaching  the  gate,  Mr.  La  Monte  noticed  a  bird  flying 
high  above  them. 

"See  that  bird,"  he  exclaimed,  "I  will  shoot  it  in  the 
right  wing." 

He  fired  his  revolver,  and  down  came  the  bird,  shot  in  the 
right  wing.  .  ; 

"  Take  this  dead  bird  along  with  you  to  Prance,  and  thank 
God  that  you  are  still  alive,  for  you  had  a  narrow  escape ; 
but  if  you  fail  to  carry  out  my  instructions,  I  will  shoot  you 
through  your  right  temple,  and  I  am  as  good  as  my  word. 
Away  with  you  I  " 

He  then  told  the  hackman  to  what  depot  he  should  take 
them,  and  the  two  Counts  were  soon  driving  rapidly  toward 
their  destination. 

Thus,  noble  reader,  we  dismiss  the  Counts  finally,  believ- 
ing that  we  have  rendered  many  a  family  a  good  service  by 
sketching  the  Counts  as  some  of  them  are;  and  mothers  and 
fathers  should,  therefore,  not  be  so  anxious  to  marry  their 
daughters  to  titled  nobility.  Most  of  them  are  shamefully 
corrupted,  and  their  talents  and  wealth  are  greatly  over- 
rated. Far,  far  better  would  it  be  for  the  daughter,  the  fam- 
ily, and  even  the  State,  to  marry  her  to  a  young  man  who 
is  only  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  but  with  good  habits 
and  a  trade.  Then  the  prospects  are  that  such  a  union  will 
be  a  happy  one,  and  add  to  the  wealth  of  the  State,  for  the 
daughter's  inheritance  would  remain  in  the  country,  and  not 
be  taken  to  Europe,  to  be  squandered  by  some  rascally  noble- 
man. 

Mr.  John  James  La  Monte  repaired  to  his  bed-room,  where 
he  found  his  wife,  crying  like  a  child. 

"  Guilty  conscience  cries,"  said  he  to  himself. 

"  O,  Jo —  Joh —  John,  wh —  what  ha —  have  yo —  you  d — 
do —  done?"  stammered  Mrs.  La  Monte,  weepingly. 

"  Cry  on,  Theodosia  Bottwell,  cry  on !  Your  crocodile 
tears  will  not  affect  me.  "Weep !  You  have  cause  enough  to 
shed  tears,  even  if  they  are  crocodile  tears.  Theodosia  Bott- 
well can  not  shed  other  tears,"  said  the  husband,  sneeringly. 


A    TALE   OF   REAL    LIFE.  341 

Mr.  La  Monte  uttered  the  name  Theodosia  Bottwell,  with 
withering  scorn.  Mrs.  La  Monte,  noticing  it,  said  : 

"  0,  I  wish  I  was  Theodosia  Bottwell ;  but  you  made  me 
Mrs.  La  Monte,  and  I  demand  to  be  called  by  that  name." 

"Not  by  me,"  answered  the  husband,  sternly.  "la  my 
eyes  you  are  henceforth  only  Theodosia  Bottwell,  and  not 
Mrs.  John  James  La  Monte ;  yet,  for  the  sake  of  the  children, 
1  will  permit  you  to  stay  under  this  roof,  and  bear  the  name 
of  Mrs.  La  Monte,  but  that  is  all.  You  are  my  wife  no 
longer  I " 

This  was  said  in  a  tone  and  manner  which  convinced  Mrs. 
La  Monte  that  her  husband  meant  what  he  said,  and  she 
knew  that  if  her  husband  once  made  up  his  mind  not  to 
recognize  her  as  his  wife,  her  fate  would  be  sealed,  and  that 
she  was  doomed  to  be  treated  by  him  with  merciless  con- 
tempt. 

Mr.  La  Monte  strode  up  and  down  the  room  with  rapid 
steps.  The  whole  past  seemed  to  appear  before  his  vision, 
and  his  heart  wept  over  the  sufferings  he  had  endured 
throughout  his  married  life.  He  could  have  borne  all  his 
wife's  unreasonable  whims,  and  even  insulting  language,  but 
to  try  to  break  the  marriage  vow  was  more  than  he  could 
bear.  He  doubled  his  fist,  lifted  up  his  hand,  and  exclaimed, 
as  if  speaking  to  himself: 

"  Theodosia  Bottwell,  from  this  hour  you  cease  to  be  the 
wife  of  John  James  La  Monte,  the  son  of  the  washwoman." 

He  repeated  it  again  and  again,  always  with  greater  energy 
and  determination. 

Mrs.  La  Monte,  the  born  Bottwell,  became  alarmed,  and 
mentally  exclaimed :  "Let  me  beg  his  forgiveness,  else  I  am 
lost.  I  can  bear  anything  but  contempt  from  him;  to  be  in 
his  eyes  only  Theodosia  Bottwell,  and  not  Mrs.  La  Monte,  his 
wife,  who  shares  with  him  his  affection  and  his  confidence, 
would  break  my  heart." 

She  threw  herself  on  her  knees  before  the  unhappy  hus- 
band, and  weepingly  implored  his  forgiveness.  "Don't  cast 
me  away,  for  I  am  yet  your  pure  wife.  I  admit,  that  through 


342  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

my  foolish  vanity,  I  was  on  the  brink  of  falling,  but  the 
timely  interference  of  the  good  Mrs.  "Wehlen  saved  me;  chas- 
tise me  for  my  flirtation,  for  that  is  all  I  am  guilty  of;  chas- 
tise me,  I  beg  you;  every  stroke  will  be  a  healing  balm; 
chastise  me,  but  don't  cast  me  off,  or  I  am  lost ;  forgive  me, 
my  noble  husband  ;  punish  me  as  you  think  best,  but  don't 
call  me  Theodosia  Bottwell.  Call  me  your  wife ;  call  me  Mrs. 
La  Monte,  as  I  have  been  called  by  you." 

"Not  as  you  have  been,"  exclaimed  the  husband;  "yon 
have  " — he  could  not  finish,  for  the  door  was  violently  thrown 
open,  and  Winfred  entered,  covered  with  dust  and  perspira- 
tion. He  could  hardly  breathe. 

"  Quick!"  said  he;  "  Grandfather  is  dying,  and  he  requests 
you  to  come  to  his  house  immediately.  Ma,  don't  dress,  but 
come  as  you  are,  else  you  will  be  too  late.  Quick  !  quick  !  for 
God's  sake;  I  will  hurry  back  on  my  horse  and  tell  poor 
grandfather  that  you  are  coming." 

He  left  the  room,  threw  himself  in  the  sadle,  and  hastened 
back  to  his  dying  grandfather. 

Mr.  La  Monte  placed  his  two  fingers  in  his  mouth  and  gave 
one  of  his  shrill  whistles,  which  made  the  hills  ring. 

Jim  started  on  a  trot,  saying :  "  To-day  Mr.  La  Monte  has 
his  steam  up,  he  whistles  like  an  engine.  I  must  be  quick." 

Mr.  La  Monte  called  to  him :  "  I  want  the  carriage  in  three 
minutes  before  the  door." 

"Madam  will  get  ready  to  start  in  two  and  a  half  minutes," 
commanded  the  husband,  in  a  tone  that  made  Mrs.  La  Monte 
dress  as  quick  as  she  never  dressed  before. 

Mr.  La  Monte  rang  the  bell ;  the  chambermaid  answered. 

"Please  tell  Miss  Eosalind  that  I  wish  to  see  her." 

"Miss  Eosalind  is  asleep,  and  we  can  not  even  awaken 
her,"  answered  the  servant. 

"  That  is  strange!"  exclaimed  the  father. 

"Mrs.  Wehlen  is  greatly  alarmed,  and  talks  of  breaking 
the  door,"  remarked  the  girl. 

Mr.  La  Monte  quickly  left  the  room,  went  in  the  garden 
and  took  a  ladder,  which  he  placed  near  Eosalind's  window. 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  343 

He  mounted  the  same,  broke  one  of  the  windows,  and  soon 
was  in  the  room,  where  he  found  Eosalind  fast  asleep ;  but 
the  moment  he  bended  toward  his  daughter,  he  noticed  a 
strange  scent  emanating  from  the  pillow  :  "Ha!"  exclaimed 
he,  "that  rascal  Count  Louis,  when  he  left  the  supper  table, 
last  evening,  saturated  these  pillows  with  poison.  This  ex- 
plains Rosalind's  unnatural  sleep.  Julius  Solomon  gave  Otto 
correct  information  about  those  Counts.  How  careful,  how 
very  careful  we  ought  to  be,  whom  we  invite  to  our  house. 
These  were  accomplished  rascals.  I  and  my  family  had  a 
narrow  escape." 

Gently  he  took  the  pillows  from  beneath  Rosalind's  head, 
and  threw  them  out  of  the  window.  This  done,  he  moved 
the  bed  to  the  open  window,  unbolted  the  door,  but  admitted 
only  Mrs.  Wehlen,  whom  he  told  to  wash  Rosalind  with 
cold  water,  and  if  she  should  not  revive,  to  send  Jim  to 
Grandfather  Bottwell's,  and  he  would  come  home  immediately. 

Mrs.  La  Monte  was  already  waiting  in  the  carriage.  The 
husband  ordered  Jim  to  drive  as  fast  as  he  possibly  could. 

They  soon  arrived  at  Mr.  Bottwell's  residence,  and  found 
him  in  his  last  dying  moments.  His  eyes  were  directed  to- 
ward the  door,  expressing  a  sign  of  joy  when  he  saw  his 
daughter  and  son-in-law;  he  also  looked  for  Rosalind  and 
Viola,  and  a  cloud  spread  over  his  pale  and  sunken  features 
when  he  saw  they  were  not  coming.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  La 
Monte  approached  his  bed,  when  the  old  grandfather,  with 
great  difficulty,  said  : 

"Theodosia,  be  a  good  Christian  woman;  John,"  he  pointed 
toward  a  newspaper  lying  on  the  table ;  John,  see  whether 
our  bonds  are  genuine."  These  were  his  last  words ;  a 
strange  rattling  was  heard  in  his  throat,  one  more  sigh,  and 
the  spirit  departed  to  the  unknown  region,  to  the  bourne 
whence  no  traveler  returns. 

Grandfather  Bottwell  was  a  corpse,  and  what  a  corpse! 
A  corpse  on  whose  features  rested  not  the  heavenly  smile  of 
peace,  it  was  a  corpse  which  still  had  the  impression  on  its 
features  of  having  been  a  vicious,  grasping,  money  making 


344  CUE    PROSPECTS. 

and  monoy  keeping  body;  it  was  a  corpse  for  whom  a  few 
mourned;  it  was  a  corpse  that  had  been  a  corpse,  when 
living. 

Of  late  all  good  men  had  avoided  his  presence  as  much  as 
possible ;  they  knew  him  to  be  illiberal,  merciless,  and 
uncharitable.  He  was  an  impediment  to  general  pros- 
perity. It  was  through  him  that  the  projected  railroad 
could  not  be  built,  though  a  committee  of  good  and  en- 
lightened men — men  who  were  no  mere  figure-heads,  but 
who  through  their  own  exertion  and  wisdom  had  been  the 
pioneers  of  their  fortune,  who  felt  for  their  fellow-men,  and 
wished  to  see  their  city  prosper  and  flourish — had  waited  on 
him.  They  had  laid  before  him  all  their  plans,  the  loss  or 
profit  for  the  city  by  building  or  not  building,  and  had  asked 
the  old  man  to  head  the  subscription  list  with  a  liberal  sum. 
These  men  had  used  all  their  eloquence,  knowing  that  if  Mr. 
Bottwell  would  not  head  the  list,  a  good  many  of  the  other 
luke-warm  citizens  would  have  had  an  excuse  in  not  sub- 
scribing for  the  projected  railroad.  "If  Mr.  Bottwell,  the 
man  with  his  big  pile  of  5-20s  and  10-40s,  the  large  stock- 
holder, will  not  pay  toward  the  enterprise,  you  can  not  ex- 
pect it  from  us,"  they  would  say. 

But  all  was  in  vain.  He  was  dead  to  any  enterprise;  dead 
to  anything  that  would,  in  the  least,  be  a  benefit  to  his  fel- 
low-beings. He  was  a  living  corpse,  and  many  there  were 
who  wished  him  to  be  a  dead  corpse,  and  so  to  have  one  of 
these  first-class  funerals. 

But  where  is  Grandmother  Bottwell?  "Why  is  she  not  at 
the  side  of  her  dying  husband?  She  is  all  by  herself  in  her 
room,  which  she  had  not  left  during  the  sickness  of  her  hus- 
band. She  would  not  wait  on  him  because  he  was  so  rude 
and  wanted  her  to  hand  him  a  glass  of  water,  without  saying 
"  please;"  and  even  when  he  was  dead  she  would  not  go  in  the 
room.  "I  have  a  sore  in  my  mouth,"  said  she,  "and  can 
not  use  my  set  of  false  teeth  ;  I  don't  wish  to  be  seen  by  any 
one,  without  them,  for  it  makes  me  look  so  old."  No,  she 


A   TALE  OF   REAL   LIFE.  345 

prefers  to  remain  alone;  besides  she  don't  care  much  if  her 
husband  died.  He  called  her,  only  a  few  months  ago,  a  "  vain 
old  goose,"  and  why  should  she  mourn  over  his  death  ?  Such 
were  her  thoughts. 

Mr.  John  James  La  Monte,  his  wife  and  son,  stood  for 
some  moments,  silently  before  the  dead.  The  husband  and 
father  at  last  broke  the  silence,  and  said,  with  great  emo- 
tion : 

"  See,  and  behold  now  this  body  without  a  spirit !  What 
is  it?  A  heap  of  flesh,  horrid  to  the  sight,  which  must  be 
shoveled  away,  and  become  the  food  of  worms.  What  is  left 
of  us  ?  Nothing  but  our  good  deeds  and  the  good  examples 
we  have  set  before  our  children  and  our  neighbors."  He 
paused  and  sighed  deeply.  The  wife  knew,  and  so  did  the 
son,  that  that  corpse  lying  before  them  had  left  no  good  deeds, 
no  good  examples,  behind  him. 

Mr.  La  Monte  continued,  mournfully : 

"  Theodosia,  and  you,  my  good  son,  — " 

Mrs.  La  Monte  interrupted  him  : 

"  0,  my  dear  husband,  don't  call  me  Theodosia  ;  call  me 
wife,  call  me  your  dear  wife,  for  I  swear  before  the  corpse  of 
my  dear  father  that  I  will  henceforth  be  to  y  ou  a  good  and 
honorable  wife,  not  a  vain  woman.  I  will  love  you  and  try 
to  be  worthy  of  being  your  dear  wife." 

The  husband  made  no  answer,  but  took  her  hand  affection- 
ately in  his,  and  said,  almost  overpowered  with  grief: 

"  Wife  and  son,  does  not  death  teach  us  how  foolish  it  is  to 
be  so  vain,  so  proud,  so  selfish,  and  so  unreasonable  ?  How 
foolish  to  be  so  deceitful  as  most  of  us  are,  so  unmerciful  and 
uncharitable !  Woe  to  those  who  die  with  such  a  record,  and 
leave  not  one  redeeming  act  behind  them.  Let  us  pray," 
and  with  clasped  hands,  and  his  head  bowed  down,  the  hus- 
band and  father,  joined  by  wife  and  son,  uttered  this  prayer : 

"  Thou  merciful  God,  we,  the  nearest  relatives  to  the  de- 
parted spirit  of  this  body,  pray  unto  thee.  thou  all-wise  and 
all-merciful  Father,  to  receive  his  spirit  graciously,  and  to 
forgive  his  sins  and  shortcomings.  Be  merciful,  thou  all-po- 


346  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

tent,  remember  that  we  are  only  weak  mortals.  "We  pray 
unto  thee  from  the  innermost  recesses  of  the  soul,  if  the  sins 
and  shortcomings  of  our  father  and  grandfather  are  so  great 
that  thy  impartial  justice  can  not  grant  the  mercy  for  which 
we  so  sincerely  pray,  then,  O,  God,  we  implore  thee,  with- 
hold thy  judgment  until  we,  the  son-in-law,  the  daughter, 
and  his  grandchildren,  will  have  used  his  wealth  for  charita- 
ble and  kind  purposes  toward  our  fellow-men,  and,  as  thy 
servants,  have  set  good  examples  as  long  as  life  lasts.  Be 
merciful,  thou  great  Euler,  and  let  thy  mercy  shine  on  the 
departed  spirit,  and  on  us,  his  living  representatives.  Amen." 

Mrs.  La  Monte  shed  tears  such  as  she  had  never  shed  be- 
fore. They  were  those  tears  which  we  shed,  hoping  for  the 
happiness  of  another.  From  that  moment  she  became  a  better 
woman.  She  now  loved  her  husband  with  ardent  affection, 
and  never  again  wished  to  become  the  Countess  La  Monte. 
She  was  very  happy  to  be  the  plain  Mrs.  La  Monte,  the  dear 
wife  of  a  dear  husband,  and  so  they  left  the  house  of  mourn- 
ing for  their  own  home. 

Winfred  remained  with  his  grandmother,  trying  to  pacify 
her  anger  because  she  could  not  wear  her  set  of  false  teeth. 

"They  cost  six  hundred  dollars,  and  now  at  the  funeral 
everybody  could  have  seen  them.  "What  a  calamity !" 

Winfred,  being  a  chip  of  the  old  block,  used  a  little  of  his 
father's  practical  diplomacy. 

"  I  have  it !"  exclaimed  he,  clapping  his  hands.  "  I  know 
how  to  cure  that  sore,  grandma." 

"  Tell  me  quickly,  for  I  wish  to  attend  the  funeral  of  my 
husband,  if  I  can  wear  my  teeth  ;  if  not,  I  will  stay  at  home." 

" "Well,"  said  "Winfred,  "the  cure  is  very  simple,  but  sure 
in  its  effect.  I  will  get  a  tumbler  with  water,  and  put  some 
salt  in  it,  with  which  you  will  please  rinse  your  mouth.  Then 
I  will  get  some  honey,  and,  after  every  wash,  you  take  a  tea- 
spoonful  of  it." 

"  Well,  I  will  try  it,"  answered  Grandmother  Bottwell.  I 
will  do  almost  anything  to  be  able  to  wear  my  teeth.  It  is 
the  handsomest  set  of  teeth  in  the  whole  country,  and  it 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  347 

would  be  a  pity  if  the  people  who  will  attend  the  funeral 
could  not  see  my  teeth.  The  set  of  teeth  cost  six  hundred 
dollars.  My  husband  was  very  mad  and  angry  when  he  had 
to  pay  the  bill.  He  called  me  '  Vanity,'  but  not  an  old  vain 
goose.  I  will  never  forgive  him  for  calling  me  an  old  vain 
goose !  I  am  neither  old,  vain,  nor  a  goose,  am  I,  Winfred  ?" 
"Winfred,  the  chip  of  the  old  block,  bit  his  tongue  so  as 
not  to  laugh. 

"  You  must  not  think  of  that,  grandma,"  said  he.  "  Grand- 
father only  said  so  when  he  was  in  ill  humor.  I  will  now 
go  and  bring  the  salt  water  and  the  honey."  And  off  he 
went.  He  soon  returned  with  a  tumbler  of  salt  water,  honey 
and  a  teaspoon. 

Grandmother  Bottwell  said,  "I  am  really  glad  to  have  such 
a  nice  and  attentive  grandson.  But,  Winfred,  you,  too,  may  be 
proud  to  have  me  as  your  grandmother,  for  I  have  been,  and 
am  still,  the  leader  of  fashion.  I  am  envied  by  every  lady, 
especially  when  I  drive  in  my  grand  carriage.  Will  not  my 
carriage  look  nice  in  the  funeral  procession?  It  would  be  a 
misfortune  if  1  could  not  drive  out,  and  be  with  my  carriage 
in  that  grand  procession.  I  must  see  your  father,  and  give 
him  instructions  in  regard  to  the  grand  funeral.  It  must  be 
a  first-class  funeral.  Which  shall  I  take  first,  the  water  or 
the  honey?" 

"  The  water,  grandma ;  keep  some  of  it  on  the  sore  spot," 
said  Winfred. 

Grandmother  Bottwell  took  some  of  the  water  as  directed, 
and  immediately  spit  it  out,  crying : 

"Quick,  give  me  the  honey;  you  can  not  get  me  to  take 
that  salty  water.  The  honey  is  better,  I  feel  it  does  me  good. 
I  am  so  glad,  now  I  will  be  able  to  wear  my  six  hundred 
dollar  set  of  teeth.  Will  I  not  be  admired  with  the  beautiful 
set,  in  my  new  mourning  dress,  with  the  heavy  crape  veil, 
fastened  with  a  large  jet  pin  to  my  cozy  black  bonnet,  and 
then  my  long  jet  earrings,  brooch,  and  jet  cross?  I  am  sure 
that  my  jet  cross  is  the  largest  worn  by  any  lady,  and  to 
crown  the  whole,  my  superb  carriage  and  horses  in  their 


348  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

splendid  harness!  Will  I  not  be  envied  by  the  whole  crowd 
that  will  watch  the  grand  procession?  There  must  be  a 
band  of  music  heading  the  funeral.  A  band  of  music  always 
attracts  the  people,  and  the  people  shall  see  how  the  rich 
Mrs.  Bottwell  looks,  even  at  the  funeral." 

Winfred  stood  and  listened  with  awe,  for  it  was  a  sacrilege 
in  that  house  of  mourning,  to  hear  his  grandmother  talk  as 
she  did.  Not  a  tear  did  she  shed  over  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band. How  could  she?  Yanity,  practiced  for  so  many  years, 
had  long  stifled  every  noble  feeling  in  the  breast  of  that^oor 
old  woman.  We  call  her  poor,  for  it  is  the  feeling  for  our  fel- 
low-men which  makes  us  really  rich.  Wealth  is  apt  to  make 
us  poor  in  feeling,  if  we  are  carried  away  too  much  by  the 
desire  of  getting  still  richer,  or  if  we  court  other  vanity  be- 
side wealth.  The  more  we  court  wealth  and  vanity,  the  less 
we  retain  of  the  finer  feelings  for  our  fellow-men.  Grand- 
mother Bottwell  was  very  rich  in  vanity,  but  very,  very  poor 
in  other  feelings. 

Mr.  La  Monte  soon  returned  with  the  undertaker  to  pre- 
pare the  body  for  burial.  He  asked  his  mother-in-law 
whether  she  would  not  like  to  assist  in  the  last  act  of  kind- 
ness which  we  can  bestow  on  those  who  have  been  one  of  the 
family. 

Mrs.  Bottwell  declined,  saying  that  she  did  not  care  to  nee 
her  departed  husband;  "he  did  of  late  look  so  worn-out  and 
emaciated,  that  she  did  not  care  for  seeing  him ;  he  might 
haunt  her  in  her  sleep." 

Mr.  La  Monte  left  his  mother-in-law  without  saying  another 
word.  "  'Tis  awful,  horrid  !  and  this  may  be  my  lot  if  I  don't 
check  my  wife's  vanity.  I  have  made  a  good  commence- 
ment to-day,  and  will  follow  it  up  until  my  efforts  are 
crowned  with  success,"  said  he  to  himself. 

Grandmother  Bottwell  called  him  back,  saying:  I  will  see 
now  whether  I  have  judged  you  correctly  or  not,  for  you 
must  remember  that  I  was  opposed  to  my  daughter  Theo- 
dosia  marrying  you.  I  will  see  whether  you  are  a  real  gen- 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  349 

tleman,  and  treat  me  well,  as  the  grandmother  of  your  chil- 
dren should  be  treated. 

"  Please  tell  me  what  you  want,"  asked  the  son-in-law. 

"I  wish  my  husband  to  have  a  first-class  funeral.  Let 
all  the  relatives  of  the  family  Bottwell  be  invited ;  and  also 
the  City  Guards,  of  which  my  husband  was  a  captain,  great 
many  years  ago;  but  not  wishing  to  contribute  anything 
toward  buying  a  new  flag,  he  lost  his  captaincy  ;  yet,  for  all 
that,  they  ought  to  turn  out,  and  with  muffled  drums  and  the 
best  band  of  music,  escort  their  old  captain  to  his  resting 
place." 

She  had  to  pause,  for  it  was  difficult  for  her  to  speak  with- 
out her  teeth.  After  some  moments,  she  continued  : 

»'My  husband  was  an  alderman,  and  I  hope  you  will  see 
that  all  the  city  officials  turn  out.  You  may  furnish  them 
with  carriages,  if  they  are  too  stingy  to  pay  for  them 
themselves.  See  to  it,  that  the  whole  police  force,  foot  and 
mounted,  turn  out  in  their  best  uniforms,  and  to  render  the 
funeral  procession  still  more  imposing,  let  also  the  whole  fire 
department  turn  out.  While  the  procession  moves,  all  the 
bells  of  the  city  shall  ring.  Do  you  know  of  anybody  else, 
who  ought  to  be  invited  to  attend  the  funeral  in  order  to 
make  it  still  more  imposing?"  asked  Grandmother  Bottwell. 

The  son-in-law  made  no  reply,  and  she  continued: 

"Yes,  there  are  the  Free  Masons,  they  must  be  invited; 
they  look  so  odd  with  their  white  aprons." 

But  Mr.  Bottwell  was  no  Mason.  It  was  a  pity  he  was  not 
a  member  of  that  order,  for  Mr.  Bottwell  would  have  been  a 
rich  deceased  brother,  and  that  Fraternity  would  have  turned 
out  in  a  body  to  attend  the  funeral  of  the  rich  departed 
brother,  while  it  neglects  and  only  sparingly  attends  that  of 
a  poor  brother  Mason.  The  author  mentions  this,  to  show 
that  vanity  has  even  crept  among  the  Order  of  Masons. 

Grandmother  Bottwell  continued  to  speculate  who  else 
should  be  invited  to  this  first-class  funeral,  but  was  inter- 
rupted by  Miss  Eosalind's  appearance,  who  commenced  to 
console  her  grandmother  for  her  irreparable  loss.  But  the 


350  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

old  lady  felt  no  sorrow;  all  she  did  care  for  was  to  have  the 
first-class  funeral  grand  enough ;  and  suffice  it  to  say,  the 
funeral  was  grand,  very  grand,  yet  Grandmother  Bottwell 
was  not  quite  pleased,  as  the  fire  department  did  not  turn 
out,  which  would  have  rendered  the  funeral  still  more  im- 
posing. 

Grandmother  Bottwell  caught  a  cold  at  the  grand  funeral, 
took  sick,  died,  and  was  buried  beside  her  husband. 


CHAPTEE   XY. 


Bless'd  is  the  man  who  hath  not  walk'd  astray 
In  counsel  of  the  wicked,  and  i'  th'  way 
Of  sinners  hath  not  stood,  and  in  the  seat 
Of  scorners  hath  not  sat.     But  in  the  great 
Jehovah's  law  is  ever  his  delight, 
And  in  his  law  he  studies  day  and  night. 
He  shall  be  as  a  tree  which  planted  grows 
By  watery  streams,  and  in  his  season  knows 
To  yield  his  fruit,  and  his  leaf  shall  not  fall, 
And  what  he  takes  in  hand  shall  prosper  all. 
Not  so  the  wicked:  but  as  chaff  which  fann'd 
The  wind  drives ;  so  the  wicked  shall  not  stand 
In  judgment,  or  abide  their  trial  then, 
Nor  sinners  in  th'  assembly  of  just  men. 
For  the  Lord  knows  th'  upright  way  of  the  just, 
And  the  way  of  bad  men  to  ruin  must. 

— Milton. 

TIME  passed  on,  and  Zadock  Hunting,  conforming  to  his 
promise,  went  shopping  with  Augustine,  who  first  hesitated 
to  accept  the  invitation,  saying  she  hoped  that  the  grand- 
father had  forgotten  it;  but  the  old  gentleman  assured 
her  so  kindly  that  it  gave  him  great  pleasure  to  purchase 
some  souvenirs  for  her,  that  she  finally  accepted  his  offer. 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  351 

The  old  gentleman,  in  the  kindness  of  his  heart,  would  have 
purchased  everything  Augustine  fancied  ;  but  the  noble  girl 
was  very  modest  in  her  selections,  which  did  not  please  at  all 
the  grandfather.  He  stepped  up  to-  one  of  the  chief  clerks  of 
the  dry  goods  store,  and  said,  "  I  see  you  sell  here  ready- 
made  suits;  please  send  for  one  of  your  experts  in  making 
suits ;  let  him  observe  that  girl  who  is  looking  at  the  calicoes, 
and  calculate  hjer  size ;  select  a  traveling  suit,  a  street,  and  a 
reception  dress,  at  your  very  lowest  price,  and  send  them, 
with  the  other  goods  the  girl  may  purchase,  to  Mr.  Edward 
Hunting,  but  leave  the  bill  here,  as  I  will  call  and  pay  it." 

When  they  returned  home  the  purchased  dry  goods  were 
already  in  Augustine's  room,  who  was  quite  astonished  at 
the  three  elegant  suits,  and  informed  the  grandfather  that 
the  merchant  had  sent  three  suits,  which  she  did  not  buy. 
"That  is  all  right;  I  ordered  them,  and  you  will  do  me  a 
great  favor  to  accept  them  without  any  further  objection. 
I  wish  to  see  you  this  evening  in  the  reception  dress,  in 
the  parlor,  where  we  will  have  a  little  party,  in  honor  of  my 
seventy -seventh  birth-day."  This  was  said  in  such  a  father- 
ly tone  that  Augustine  made  no  further  remarks,  but  thanked 
the  noble  old  gentleman  for  his  great  kindness. 

A  select  party  was  assembled  in  the  parlor  of  Mr.  Edward 
Hunting.  The  young  ladies  of  the  house,  including  Augus- 
tine, were  beautifully,  but  not  too  elaborately,  attired  for  the 
occasion.  All  eyes  were  concentrated  on  Augustine,  who 
looked  the  very  Goddess  of  Beauty,  and  her  unassuming 
manners  made  her  even  more  interesting.  Augustine,  feel- 
ing that  she  was  the  observed  of  all,  turned  to  the  grand- 
father, as  for  protection,  and  said :  "  What  piece  was  played 
on  the  organ  at  your  wedding,  in  the  church?  " 

"My  child,"  answered  the  grandfather,  "when  I  got  mar- 
ried we  had  no  organs  in  the  church,  but,  nevertheless,  I  am 
very  fond  of  music.  When  my  son  Edward  was  married,  we 
had  organs  in  the  church,  and  they  played  'Mendelsohn's 
Wedding- March,'  which  I  thought  splendid." 

"Did  you?"  asked  Augustine;  "if  you  have  no  objection,  I 


352  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

will  play  it  on  the  piano,  in  honor  of  your  seventy-seventh 
birthday." 

"I  will  consider  it  a  great  honor;"  and  he  conducted 
Augustine  to  the  grand  octave  piano. 

Mr.  Edward  Hunting,  and  his  son  Charles,  at  once  opened 
the  superb  instrument,  and  Augustine  commenced  to  play 
that  master-piece,  in  a  truly  masterly  manner. 

Agnes,  Myra,  Blanche,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunting,  their  son 
Charles,  and  the  noble  grandfather,  all  looked  bewildered,  to 
see  and  hear  Augustine,  their  former  cook,  play  Mendelsohn's 
grand  Wedding-March,  in  such  a  masterly  style,  and  even 
without  notes.  "  See,  Agnes,"  whispered  Mrs.  Hunting,  "how 
erect  she  sits,  her  hands  don't  seem  to  move  further  than  to 
her  wrists;  she  is  a  perfect  master  on  the  instrument." 

"Ma,  please  don't  praise  her  so  much,  for  Mr.  Wilkins 
might  hear  you ;  see  how  he  looks  at  her,  with  what  admiring 
eyes ;  I  am  almost  jealous,"  said  Agnes  to  her  mother,  in  a 
low  tone. 

While  all  were  absorbed,  almost  enchanted  by  the  strains 
of  the  music  Augustine  brought  forth,  two  gentlemen  entered 
the  parlor,  unobserved.  They  too  were  enchanted,  not  only 
by  the  beautiful  music,  but  by  the  very  beautiful  player. 
Both  were  the  very  pictures  of  handsome  manhood,  tall, 
well-formed,  with  eyes  beaming  with  intellectual  power  and 
great  energy.  They  impressed  the  beholder  at  the  first  sight, 
that  they  were  noble  men  by  nature,  men  of  activity,  men 
who  were  used  to  conquer  success,  even  if  the  very  elements 
were  against  them.  They  were  young  men,  with  whom  girls 
of  eighteen  would  fall  in  love  before  they  were  aware  of  it. 
Both  listened,  and  exchanged  glances,  as  if  to  say :  "  What 
do  you  think  of  that?"  The  oldest  of  the  two  seemed  too 
restless  and  nervous  to  wait  till  the  piece  was  finished.  He 
made  a  few  rapid  steps  toward  the  piano.  All  now  looked  at 
the  handsome  stranger,  who  wore  a  strange  uniform.  There 
was  a  whispering :  "  Who  is  that?"  Augustine  looked  up. 
One  bound  from  the  chair,  and  with  the  words:  "Willkommen, 
Bruder  Karl"  (welcome,  Brother  Charles)  — "  Gott  segne 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  353 

dich,  meine  Schwester  Augustine"  (God  bless  you,  my  sister 
Augustine),  both  brother  and  sister  were  in  each  other's 
arms,  kissing  and  kissing  again. 

"  O  !  how  tall  you  have  grown  since  I  last  saw  you,"  ex- 
claimed Augustine,  looking  at  her  brother  with  admiration. 

"And  you,  Augustine,  have  become  a  very  Yenus." 

While  brother  and  sister  were  still  embracing,  and  shedding 
tears  of  joy  and  happiness,  Augustus,  for  it  was  him,  rushed 
into  his  noble  father's  arms.  Mother,  grandfather,  Agnes, 
Myra,  Blanche,  and  even  Frank  Wilkins,  embraced  and  kissed 
him.  "  Come,"  exclaimed  he,  with  tears  in  his  eyes ;  "  let  me 
introduce  to  all  of  you  the  savior  of  my  life." 

He  stepped  toward  Karl,  but  Karl  took  hold  of  him,  and 
proudly  said : 

"  Augustus,  I  have  the  great  honor  to  introduce  to  you  my 
dear  sister,  Augustine,  one  of  Prussia's  noblest  daughters. " 

Augustus  expected  to  see  a  handsome  girl,  for  Karl  had 
continually  spoken  of  his  beautiful  sister ;  but  she  was  far, 
far  handsomer  than  he  had  expected.  In  fact,  she  was  tho 
handsomest  maiden  his  eyes  ever  beheld;  and  he  made  a 
bow  before  her  which  would  have  flattered  even  the  Empress 
of  a  mighty  empire. 

Augustine  seemed  highly  pleased,  and  returned  his  cour- 
tesy with  equal  respect  and  grace. 

Augustus  now  introduced  Herr  Karl  JMiiller,  commander 
of  the  man-of-war  King  William  I.,  to  his  parents,  sisters, 
grandfather,  and  the  assembled  company,  as  the  savior  of  his 
life. 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  Karl  was  heartily  greeted  by  all 
present.  There  was  great  rejoicing,  but  the  happiest  of  all 
was  Grandfather  Hunting,  who  now  announced  that  in  honor 
of  the  expected  visitors  he  had  purchased,  in  the  suburbs,  a 
villa,  which  he  tendered  to  the  noble  commander  Miiller  and 
his  noble  sister,  Augustine,  to  make  there  their  future  home. 

"  To-morrow,  with  your  permission,  I  will  conduct  you 
there,  and  hope  that  you  will  find  the  villa  well  appointed 
in  all  its  parts,"  said  he,  smilingly. 


354  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

The  brother  and  sister  thanked  the  noble  old  gentleman 
for  his  great  hospitality,  and  promised  to  avail  themselves  of 
the  same  during  their  stay  in  the  United  States. 

The  evening  passed  in  a  happy  and  animated  conversa- 
tion ;  and  the  party  broke  up  at  a  very  late  hour,  when  they 
all  retired,  happy  as  human  beings  can  only  be,  whose  hearts 
are  full  of  joy. 

Notwithstanding  the  late  hour,  Misses  Agnes,  Myra, 
Blanche  and  their  brother  Charles  retired  ,  they  arose,  nev- 
ertheless, in  time  to  attend  to  their  respective  duties. 
Charles  was  the  soul  of  the  house ;  he  made  all  the  pur- 
chases, he  checked  all  the  goods  that  arrived  and  marked 
their  price.  He  looked  over  every  bill,  to  see  that  the 
goods  were  sold  as  he  marked  them,  and  that  there  should 
be  no  error  in  the  counting  of  the  several  articles.  He  read 
the  whole  correspondence,  and  handed  the  orders  to  be 
filled,  to  the  respective  clerks.  He  also  answered  most  of  the 
letters.  In  order  to  accomplish  so  much  he  had  established 
a  perfect  system,  which  had  to  be  observed  by  all.  Under 
his  management  the  business  of  the  firm  more  than  doubled. 
He  adopted  the  cash  system ;  bought  for  cash  and  sold  for 
cash.  He  would  say  to  those  from  whom  he  purchased : 
"  The  house  of  Edward  Hunting  buys  for  cash,  and  buys  in 
large  quantities.  To  receive  a  share  of  our  patronage,  you 
have  to  make  close  prices  ;"  and  he  watched  so  that  close 
prices  were  given,  or  he  examined  the  goods  and  substituted 
others,  which  could  be  handled  to  a  better  advantage.  To 
those  who  purchased  from  his  house  he  would  plainly  say : 
"  "We  make  you  low  prices  for  our  merchandise,  but  we  ex~ 
pect  that  when  the  bill  is  due  you  will  remit  promptly ;"  and 
if  some  of  them  did  not  remit,  as  agreed,  he  would  readily 
write : 

Gentlemen : 

Your  bill  bought  of is  three  days  over  due.     "We  know 

that  you  are  perfectly  good  for  all  you  contract,  but,  with 
your  being  good,  we  can  not  buy  any  drafts  to  meet  our 


A  TALE    OP   REAL   LIFE.  355 

obligations.     Please  remit  by  return  of  mail,  or  we  will  draw 
on  you  and  expect  to  have  our  draft  promptly  honored. 

Eeady  to  reciprocate.     Yours,  truly, 

EDWARD  HUNTING, 

per  CHARLES. 

And  he  did  reciprocate ;  if  the  firm  to  whom  he  wrote  such 
letter  did  not  promptly  remit  or  honor  their  draft,  they 
never  could  buy  a  cent's  worth  of  goods  at  the  house  of  Ed- 
ward Hunting,  on  credit.  This  rule  was  strictly  adhered  to, 
and  the  effect  was  very  evident;  the  house  of  Edward  Hunt- 
ing gave  no  notes,  bought  for  cash  and  sold  for  cash,  and 
hence  the  great  success. 

But  Charles  was  not  the  only  one  who  took  such  an  active 
part  in  the  business.  Miss  Agnes,  Miss  Myra  and  Miss 
Blanche,  too,  were  busy ;  Agnes  as  the  corresponding  clerk, 
Myra  and  Blanche  to  fill  the  orders  of  Ovei-beck  and  Fastle- 
ben,  who  were  doing  a  good  business,  sending  large  orders 
and  large  remittances.  Myra  and  Blanche  wrote  them  in 
detail  regarding  their  orders  and  prospects.  In  that  manner 
a  lively  correspondence  sprung  up  between  the  young  people. 
Miss  Agnes  liked  her  department  as  corresponding  clerk,  for 
it  gave  her  an  opportunity  to  exchange  views  with  Frank 
"Wilkins  on  the  great  question  of  woman's  suffrage,  and  they 
also  spoke  of  questions  which  concerned  them  personally. 
It  was  the  question  of  love,  and  they  did  no  longer  try  to 
conceal  that  they  were  dear  to  each  other.  They  finally 
came  to  the  understanding  that  if  the  parents  of  the  young 
lady  were  willing,  they  would  become  man  and  wife. 

Frank  Wilkins  mustered  courage,  and  asked  his  employer 
for  the  hand  of  his  daughter  Agnes. 

"I  consent,  with  the  request  that  the  marriage  be  post- 
poned until  the  approaching  New-Year,  when  you  will  be 
admitted  as  partner,  entitled  to  one-fourth  of  the  profits." 

The  joy  of  Frank  Wilkins  can  be  better  imagined  than 
described. 

Frank  Wilkins  had  hardly  left  the  presence  of  Mr.  Hunt- 
ing, when  Charles  entered  the  office,  saying:  u  Father,  here  is 


356  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

a  letter,  just  come  to  hand,  from  Overbeck  and  Fastleben, 
marked  '  strictly  private.'  They  mailed  also  a  very  largo 
order,  but  I  am  not  in  favor  of  filling  it,  as  they  owe  the 
house  now  a  little  over  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  beside,  you 
went  their  security  for  the  ten  thousand  dollars  they  received 
from  Mrs.  Ida  Lothimore's  charitable  fund.  In  my  opinion 
this  is  as  much  as  you  ought  to  trust  them ;  but  I  am  anxious 
to  see  what  they  have  to  say  as  'strictly  private.'  " 

"Don't  they  remit  promptly?"  asked  the  father. 

"Yes,  sir, they  remit  very  promptly,  considering  the  terms 
you  gave  them,"  answered  the  son. 

Mr.  Hunting  read  the  letter,  and  was  so  overpowered  with 
joy,  that  he  exclaimed,  "I  can  hardly  believe  my  eyesj 
Charles,  please  read  the  letter  to  me,  slowly." 

Charles  took  the  letter  and  read : 

"  EDWARD  HUNTING,  ESQ.  : 

"  Dear  Sir :  In  our  former  letters  we  have  informed  you 
that  we  had  selected  this  point  as  our  future  home.  We  had 
done  so,  relying  on  the  fine  geographical  position,  and  the 
reliable  information  we  had  obtained,  that  three  more  rail- 
roads would  terminate  here,  and  so  become  one  of  the 
largest  inland  cities  in  the  West.  We,  therefore,  concluded  to 
buy  one  acre  for  our  business  house,  and  a  couple  of  acres  for 
each,  as  a  private  residence,  as  we  feel  the  necessity  of  mar- 
rying and  having  our  own  household.  While  making  in- 
quiries to  whom  this  vast  tract  of  land  belongs,  in  order  to 
make  the  above  purchase,  we  find  that  the  land  belongs  to 
you.  We  most  heartily  congratulate  you  as  the  owner  of 
such  a  valuable  tract  of  land. 

"We  would  respectfully  request  you  to  let  us  know  the 
price  for  five  acres,  which  we  wish  to  select  on  three  different 
points,  to  suit  our  purpose. 

"  We  would,  also  suggest  to  you  to  have  this  valuable  tract 
of  land  surveyed,  and  laid  out  for  a  large  city,  with  broad 
streets  and  avenues.  We  gladly  tender  to  you  our  services 


A  TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  357 

to   elect  the  right  engineer,  and  see  that  he  does  the  work 
well. 

"  We  can  not  close  this  very  important  letter  without  so- 
liciting the  great  favor  of  a  favorable  answer,  by  return  of 
mail,  to  the  inclosed  letters,  on  which  the  happiness  of  our 
future  depends. 

"  With  respectful  salutations,  we  are,  dear  sir,  your  ever 
grateful  and  obedient, 

"OvERBECK  &  FASTLEBEN." 

"  In  the  letters  they  refer  to,  Overbeck  asks  for  the  hand 
of  Myra,  and  Fastleben  for  the  hand  of  Blanche,"  said  the 
happy  father. 

"That  is  indeed  great  news,"  exclaimed  Charles.  "So 
that  land  in  Arkansas,  on  which  you  have  paid  taxes  for  the 
last  fifteen  years,  has  become  very  valuable." 

"What  price  would  you  ask  for  the  five  acres  Overbeck 
and  Fastleben  wish  to  buy,"  asked  the  father,  with  a  smile. 

"If  you  intend  to  have  them  as  your  sons-in-law,  and  I 
can't  see  why  you  should  not,  for  they  are  both  healthy  and 
energetic  young  men,  with  good  business  capacities,  then  I 
think  you  ought  to  write  them  to  have  those  two  thousand 
acres  at  once  surveyed  and  laid  out  into  a  nice  city,  and  in 
consideration  of  their  paying  the  expense  of  the  survey,  and 
seeing  that  it  is  properly  done,  you  will  deed  them  five  acres 
of  the  choicest  part,"  answered  the  son. 

"No,  I  will  make  it  ten  acres;  what  is  the  difference?  it 
will  remain  in  the  family  'anyhow,"  remarked  the  kind- 
hearted  father. 

Charles  said,  "Now  I  will  fill  their  order  complete  and 
send  them  samples  besides,  of  other  very  desirable  goods  we 
have  just  received." 

"Do,  my  son,"  said  the  father,  kindly. 

The  merchant  commenced  to  walk  up  and  down  his  office, 
but  the  room  was  not  large  enough ;  he  needed  more  space 
to  walk  and  keep  pace  with  his  thoughts}  he  put  on  his 


358  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

light  overcoat,  buttoned  the  same,  and  left  the  office,  without 
saying  a  word. 

This  time  Frank  Wilkins  did  not  follow  his  noble  em- 
ployer, fearing  he  might  step  in  the  gilded  saloons  of  the 
St.  Charles,  St.  George,  St.  Nicholas,  and  similar  saints  which 
one  meets  nowadays  on  nearly  every  corner,  to  partake  of 
drinks  which  unman  and  destroy  our  usefulness.  The  faith- 
ful bookkeeper  had  no  apprehension,  for  Mr.  Edward  Hunt- 
ing abstained  entirely  from  intoxicating  beverages,  the  bane 
of  so  many  of  our  fellow-men,  and  the  author  of  Our  Pros- 
pects believes  that  it  is  the  duty  of  every  man  and  woman, 
who  feel  for  their  fellow-men,  and  sincerely  wish  the  pros- 
perity and  genuine  happiness  of  all,  should  constitute  them- 
selves into  a  committee,  and  use  their  influence  to  the  best  of 
their  ability,  to  discourage  drinking  intoxicating  beverages, 
throughout  our  blessed  land. 

As  soon  as  Mr.  Edward  Hunting  left  his  office,  Frank  "Wil- 
kins informed  Miss  Agnes,  his  dear  beloved  Agnes,  what  her 
father  had  said  in  regard  to  his  becoming  his  son-in-law. 

Agnes  was  very,  very  happy,  on  hearing  the  good  news, 
that  Frank  Wilkins,  her  dear  beloved  Frank,  was  to  become 
a  partner  of  the  prosperous  house  of  Edward  Hunting. 
"  Yes,"  said  she,  "  my  father  is  a  noble  father ;  he  does  not 
act  like  those  who  keep  all  their  property  and  profits  to 
themselves,  and  only  then  give  it  up  to  their  children  when 
they  no  longer  can  keep  it,  when  death  closes  their  career. 
No,  my  father  wishes  to  give  his  children,  also,  a  chance  to 
live  as  much  as  possible  without  oppressing  cares;  to  share 
with  him  his  income,  and  reserving  to  him  the  right  of  veto, 
if  they  should  want  more  than  they  are  entitled.  God  bless 
my  good  father !"  •  •- .  '* 

Frank  Wilkins  joined  in  with  a  hearty  Amen,  which  the 
betrothed  couple  sealed  with  a  kiss. 

Mr.  Edward  Hunting,  reaching  the  busy  street,  noticed 
with  what  great  respect,  and  even  veneration,  he  was  greeted 
by  the  people.  He  mentally  exclaimed,  "  This  is  worth  more 
to  me  than  millions  of  money,  for  it  shows  that  I  have  not 


A   TALE   OP   REAL   LIFE.  359 

lived  in   vain,  for   I   have  endeared   myself  to  my  fellow- 
men." 

"Do  you  see!"  exclaimed  one  pedestrian  to  another,  "do 
you  see  that  plain,  unassuming  gentleman  going  there?  that 
is  Mr.  Edward  Hunting,  one  of  our  most  charitable  and  pub- 
lic-spirited merchants." 

"  He  looks  like  a  man  who  is  in  peace  with  himself,  his 
fellow-men,  and  with  his  God,"  observed  the  other. 

"  So  he  is,  and  so  should  every  man  and  woman  try  to  be ; 
but  he  is  more  than  that,  he  is  a  very  sensible  and  practical 
man,"  continued  the  talkative  pedestrian.  Having  three 
full  grown  daughters,  who,  no  doubt,  consumed  a  great  deal 
of  money  and  time  in  dressing,  he,  very  likely,  bad  a  sensible 
talk  with  them,  and  now  the  young  ladies  work  at  his  store 
as  clerks.  When  I  passed  his  store,  I  noticed  one  of  the 
daughters  marking  a  dozen  cases  to  Arkansas.  So  happy 
did  she  look,  that  I  presumed  she  must  have  thought  of 
something  very  pleasing." 

"  Perhaps  the  very  cases  she  marked  were  intended  for 
her  future  husband,"  remarked  his  friend. 

"Very  likely,"  was  the  prompt  response;  "and  what  of 
it? — will  it  not  be  better  for  the  couple  if  the  wife 
knows  something  about  merchandising  ?  She  will  be  more 
careful  of  her  husband's  money,  for  she  learns  now  in  her 
father's  business,  what  a  power  money  has,  especially  with 
a  merchant.  It  is  the  very  life-blood  in  his  trade." 

Mr.  Edward  Hunting  still  kept  on  walking  and  thinking 
over  the  past  and  the  present.  "  Yes,"  exclaimed  he,  "  there 
is  a  great  deal  of  truth  in  the  old  saying,  ( cast  the  bread  on  the 
waters,  and  your  children  will  find  it.'  Those  two  twenty-dol- 
lar notes  given  by  me  to  Mrs.  Ida  Lothimore  had  the  effect 
that  I  could  cover  my  draft,  and,  no  doubt,  saved  and 
strengthened  my  credit;  it  enabled  me  to  assist  Overbeck 
and  Fastleben  to  start  for  themselves  in  business,  and  as  the 
result  of  that  very  start  I  now  marry  to  them  my  two  daugh- 
ters. They  being  settled  on  my  tract  of  land,  and  able, 
through  my  assistance,  to  keep  a  good  assortment  of  goods, 


360  OFR   PROSPECTS. 

will  draw  trade,  and  also  help  to  induce  others  to  settle 
there,  so  that  my  land  will  become  very  valuable,  and, 
with  the  industrious  habits  of  my  children,  they  will  be 
saved  from  ever  knowing  want."  "With  such  and  similar 
thoughts  he  reached  his  residence.  Before  he  was  aware  of 
it  he  had  entered  his  house.  Mrs.  Hunting  exclaimed,  "  Why, 
my  dear  husband,  it  is  only  half-past  ten,  and  you  are  al- 
ready at  home.  Do  you  wish  your  dinner  ?  " 

"  No,  my  dear,  I  came  home  to  tell  you  good  news  ;  "  and 
he  told  his  wife  how  Frank  Wilkins  had  asked  for  the  hand 
of  Agnes,  and  how  at  the  same  time  he  had  received  letters 
from  Overbeck  and  Fastleben,  who  asked  for  the  hand  of 
Myra  and  Blanche. 

Mrs.  Hunting  said  :  "  If  you  would  have  brought  me  the 
news  a  year  ago,  that  all  my  three  daughters  were  engaged, 
I  would  have  felt  an  indescribable  joy,  for  then  my  daugh- 
ters were  a  burden  to  me ;  but  now,  under  our  new  mode  of 
dressing  and  occupation,  it  is  a  great  comfort  and  joy  to  have 
them  about  me.  Agnes  admitted  to  me  that  she  loved  Frank 
"Wilkins,  Myra  thought  Overbeck  looked  very  handsome,  and 
Blanche  was  highly  delighted  when  Fastleben  paid  us  a  visit. 
I  am,  therefore,  highly  pleased  to  see  them  marry  the  men 
whom  they  love." 

Mr.  Hunting  returned  to  the  store,  and  penned  the  follow- 
ing letter : 

"  MESSRS.  OVERBECK  &  FASTLEBEN  : 

"  Gentlemen :  In  answer  to  your  letters,  I  beg  to  say,  that 
you  shall  please  engage,  at  once,  a  good  engineer  to  survey 
my  land,  and  when  laying  out  the  same  in  city  lots,  he  shall 
reserve  twenty  acres  for  school  and  church  purposes,  to  be 
presented  to  any  congregation,  no  matter  of  what  denomi- 
nation, if  they  agree  to  build  a  school  or  meeting-house  in 
one  year  after  the  land  is  deeded  to  them. 

"  To  each  of  you  I  will  deed  five  acres,  which  you  may 
select  wherever  you  choose,  with  the  only  condition  that  you 
will  have  to  pay  and  superintend  the  survey. 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  361 

"As  regards  accepting  you  as  my  sons-in-law,  I  beg  to  state 
that  I  will  be  pleased  to  call  you  such,  provided  you  continue 
to  observe  your  solemn  oath,  and  win  the  consent  of  Myra 
and  Blanche.     Wishing  you  good  health  and  prosperity, 
"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  yours,  truly, 
"EDWARD  HUNTING." 

He  read  the  letter  over  and  finding  no  correction  to  be 
necessary,  he  copied  the  same  in  his  letter  copy-book,  folded, 
sealed,  directed  and  mailed  it  at  once. 

At  the  same  time  he  wrote  another  letter,  which  we  lay 
before  the  reader,  since  it  will,  no  doubt,  be  of  interest. 

MRS.  IDA  LOTHIMORE,  Paris,  France  . 

"  Respected  madam :  Having  not  as  yet  received  an  acknowl- 
edgment of  my  letters,  which  I  have  forwarded  to  you,  I 
have  to  believe  that  my  correspondence  did  not  reach  you;  I 
therefore  beg  to  state,  that  the  one  hundred  thousand  dollars 
are  duly  credited  to  you,  on  my  ledger,  for  such  purposes  as 
stated  by  you.  I  repeat  herewith  my  request,  noble  madam, 
at  your  earliest  convenience,  to  appoint  a  Board  of  Trus- 
tees to  control  the  above  named  fund,  according  to  your 
clear  and  comprehensive  instructions. 

"  Up  to  this  date,  I  have  only  advanced  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars: five  thousand  to  Leonheart  Overbeck,  and  the  same 
amount  to  Henry  Fastleben.  I  went  their  security.  The 
young  men  formed  partnership,  and  are  now  doing  a  splen- 
did business.  To-day  Overbeck  asked  for  the  hand  of  my 
daughter  Myra,  and  Fastleben  for  the  hand  of  my  daughter 
Blanche,  to  which  unions  my  wife  and  myself  have  readily 
consented.  Thus  you  can  see  that  the  money  I  once  gave 
you,  and  which  benefited  you  and  yours,  now  benefits  me 
and  mine.  What  a  lesson  should  this  be  to  men,  to  practice 
charity,  for  little  do  we  know  at  the  time  how  the  very  char- 
ity may  be  returned  in  our  favor,  perhaps  in  the  evening  of 
life. 

"  Mrs.  Gardner,  and  her  beautiful  and  promising  children, 


362  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

and  Grandmother  Hopewell,  I  have  furnished  with  all,  ac- 
cording to  your  directions.  I  have  personally  attended  to 
seeing  them  safely  off. 

"  Yesterday  I  received  a  letter  from  Mrs.  G-ardner's  oldest 
son,  containing  a  post-office  order  for  fifty  dollars,  being,  as 
he  stated,  the  first  money  he  had  earned  in  his  adopted 
State.  He  requested  me  to  buy,  for  this  money,  Shake- 
speare's works,  and  forward  them  at  once,  since  he  intended 
to  establish  among  the  workmen,  and  in  the  neighborhood, 
a  Shakespearean  Club.  You  will  imagine  that  I  have  purchased 
and  forwarded  them  without  delay.  The  Club,  under  the 
management  of  young  Gardner,  will  no  doubt  prosper,  and, 
by  the  time  you  return  to  your  Texas  home,  you  will  find 
your  neighborhood  greatly  refined. 

"Wishing  that  this  may  find  you  in  the  enjoyment  of  ex- 
cellent health,  and  that  the  Almighty  Father  may  prolong 
your  life,  and  shield  you  and  yours  from  every  evil,  I  am, 
madam,  with  distinguished  consideration, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"EDWARD  HUNTING." 

Mr.  Hunting  copied  this  letter  also  in  his  letter  copy-book, 
and  mailed  the  same  at  once. 

Grandfather  Hunting  now  called  for  his  son  and  grand- 
children with  the  carriage,  to  take  them  home  for  dinner. 
On  the  way  home,  he  informed  them  that  he  had  purchased 
a  very  beautiful  equipage,  which  he  had  placed  at  the  dis- 
posal of  Commander  Miiller,  his  sister,  and  Augustus,  and  at 
eight  o'clock  this  evening,  he  would  send  his  team  to  assist  in 
conveying  Edward,  Kate,  and  their  five  children,  and  also 
Frank  Wilkins,  to  the  villa,  where  they  were  going  to  cele- 
brate the  engagement  of  Miss  Agnes  and  Frank  Wilkins. 

Agnes  felt  very  happy,  and  the  noble  grandfather  proudly 
looked  upon  his  blushing  granddaughter. 

Precisely  at  eight  o'clock  the  new  team  of  Zadock  Hunting, 
Esq.,  arrived,  and  Mr.  Edward  Hunting,  Mrs.  Hunting,  Mr. 
Frank  Wilkins,  and  Miss  Agnes,  took  their  seats  in  grand- 


A   TALE   OP   REAL    LIFE.  363 

father's  carriage,  while  Augustus,  Charles,  Myra  and  Blanche 
occupied  their  father's  carriage. 

Beaching  the  villa,  they  found  the  noble  old  gentleman 
ready  to  play  the  happy  host,  gracefully  assisted  by  Augus- 
tine. A  band  of  music  was  also  engaged  for  the  happy  oc- 
casion, and  played  beautiful  overtures  of  the  most  popular 
operas.  Eelatives  and  friends  of  the  family  had  been  hastily 
invited.  All  came  and  added,  with  their  presence,  to  the  en- 
joyment of  the  event. 

At  half-past  ten  the  guests  were  invited  to  an  adjoining 
room,  where  the  delicacies  of  the  season  were  served  and  en- 
joyed. After  the  repast  Mr.  Zadock  Hunting  said  that  it  was 
the  general  custom  on  such  an  occasion  for  the  bridegroom 
to  present  the  bride  with  jewels  and  costly  presents.  But,  as 
the  Hunting  family  had  inaugurated  plain  dressing,  and 
given  up  wearing  jewels,  the  bridegroom  had  commissioned 
him  to  distribute  ten  thousand  bushels  of  coal  and  one  hun- 
dred barrels  of  flour  among  the  poor  of  the  city,  in  honor  of 
his  engagement  to  Miss  Agnes  Hunting. 

A  loud  applause  followed  the  announcement,  and  the  next 
morning  the  papers  fully  described  the  party  given  by  Zadock 
Hunting,  Esq.,  at  his  new  villa,  in  honor  of  the  engagement 
between  Mr.  Frank  "Wilkins  and  Miss  Agnes  Hunting,  one 
of  the  granddaughters  of  the  owner  of  the  villa,  and  that 
the  bridegroom,  instead  of  making  a  present  to  the  bride, 
commissioned  the  grandfather,  who  is  a  philanthropist,  to 
distribute  among  the  poor  of  the  city  one  hundred  barrels 
of  flour  and  ten  thousand  bushels  of  coal ;  to  which  the  edi- 
tor added:  "It  would  be  well  for  society  at  large,  instead 
of  making  the  brides  on  such  occasions  rich  presents  of  gold 
and  jewelry,  to  honor  the  event  by  distributing  the  necessa- 
ries of  life  to  the  poor,  as  above  chronicled.  It  would  com- 
fort thousands,  and  thousands  would  pray  for  and  bless  the 
betrothed  couple,  and  charity,  being  one  of  the  brightest 
jewels  of  humanity,  would  surely  shine  brilliantly  from  the 
eyes  of  the  bride,  if  she  wore  it  in  her  heart." 

Not  only  did  Frank  "Wilkins  and  Agnes  Hunting  enjoy  the 


364  DUE   PROSPECTS. 

scene  and  the  happiness  of  spending  the  evening  in  each 
other's  society,  but  also  Augustus  and  Augustine  had  a  pleas- 
ant chat.  Augustus  related  his  exploits  on  the  turbulent  sea, 
the  various  countries  he  had  visited,  the  customs  he  had  ob- 
served, and  gave  his  views  on  the  advantages  and  disadvan- 
tages of  the  various  nations.  One  thing  especially  had 
pleased  him  in  China  and  Japan — their  simple,  yet  comfort- 
able houses. 

"  Such  houses  as  they  have  can  be  cheaply  built,"  said  he. 

"  And  where  are  the  advantages,  if  they  are  so  cheaply 
built  that  the  laboring  man  and  the  mechanic  will  only  earn 
less  and  have  less  to  do?"  asked  Augustine. 

"  The  advantages  are  that  nearly  all  can  live  in  their  own 
houses;  and  in  being  so  constructed  that  it  only  requires  very 
little  time  and  exertion  to  keep  them  in  order,  ^they  can  de- 
vote more  of  their  time  to  mental  and  physical  exercise  and 
enjoyment,"  answered  Augustus. 

"  Yes,"  rejoined  Augustine,  "  our  present  mode  of  con- 
structing a  house  is  too  complicated ;  there  are  too  many 
stairs,  too  many  rooms,  too  many  closets,  and  too  many  win- 
dows. Everything  seems  to  be  built  on  such  a  useless,  grand 
scale." 

"  You  express  just  my  views,  dear  Augustine." 

At  the  word  dear,  Augustine  looked  up,  and  the  young 
man  blushed  deeply,  but  said  as  well  as  he  could,  "  I  hope 
you  will  pardon  me,  but  I  can  assure  you  that  the  words 
'  Dear  Augustine,'  came  from  my  heart,  for  you  have  acted 
so  noble  toward  your  brother,  who  has  praised  you  every 
hour  of  the  day,  that  I  loved  you  before  I  saw  you ;  and 
when  I  beheld  you  last  evening,  and  heard  you  play  that  im- 
mortal wedding  march,  my  love  for  you  grew  so  as  to  embrace 
my  whole  being.  I  am  yours,  with  my  whole  heart  and  my 
whole  soul,  and  ask  the  same  of  you  in  return.  May  I  hope  ?" 

It  was  Augustine's  turn  to  blush.  She  was  on  the  point  of 
giving  an  answer,  when  Mrs.  Hunting  approached  them,  and 
said :  "  A  hop  is  now  proposed  in  the  parlor,  Augustus.  I 


A  TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  365 

have  not  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  dance  for  some  time. 
Suppose  you — " 

"  Yes,  mother,"  interrupted  Augustus,  offering  his  arm  to 
Augustine,  with  all  the  gallantry  of  a  young  and  well  edu- 
cated American  captain. 

Mrs.  Hunting  noticed  this  movement,  and  said  to  herself: 
"  I  did  not  expect  that  my  son  Augustus  would  escort 
Augustine,  my  former  cook,  and  a  German  girl  at  that,  in 
presence  of  all  my  acquaintances,  to  the  dance — but  what  of 
it  ?  Am  I  not  getting  vain  again  ?  Suppose  she  is  a  cook 
and  a  German  girl ;  is  she" — she  was  interrupted  in  her  sol- 
iloquy. Her  father-in-law  called  her :  "  Kate,  if  you  wish 
to  see  a  pretty  sight,  step  in  the  parlor  and  see  Augustus  and 
Augustine  dance;  my  eyes  have  not  seen  the  like." 

Mrs.  Hunting  accompanied  the  grandfather  to  the  parlor 
and  was  delighted  to  see  Augustus  and  Augustine  dance. 
They  resembled  more  a  fairy  couple  coming  from  the  fairy 
land,  just  to  dance  and  dazzle  the  beholders.  After  the  dance 
was  over,  Augustus  escorted  Augustine  to  a  comfortable  nook 
in  the  room,  where  the  crowd  did  not  press  them,  and  after 
having  expressed  his  thanks  for  the  great  pleasure  he  en- 
joyed in  their  dance,  he  mustered  courage  to  repeat,  "May 
I  hope?" 

"  The  captain  admits  that  my  noble  brother  Karl  has 
praised  me  before  him  every  hour  of  the'  day,  so  that  the 
captain  fell  in  love  with  me,  before  he  ever  saw  me.  Would 
it  not  be  better  to  wait  and  get  better  acquainted  with  the 
sister  of  the  commander  of  the  man-of-war  King  William  ?" 
asked  Augustine,  archly. 

"  What  about  the  commander  of  the  man-of-war  King 
William?"  exclaimed  the  brother,  now  approaching  and 
gently  touching  the  sister  with  his  finger  under  the  chin,  re- 
peating, "What  about  me,  Augustine?" 

"  The  captain  said  that  you  had  praised  me  before  him 
every  hour  of  the  day,"  said  Augustine. 

"  And  he  wishes  to  praise  you  every  minute  of  the  day," 
remarked  Karl,  with  a  smile. 


366  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

The  grandfather  also  joined  the  group.  Time  passed 
quickly  for  the  young  couple.  It  was  quite  late  when  it 
•was  announced  that  the  carriages  were  waiting.  When 
Augustus  bid  Karl  and  Augustine  "  Good  night,"  he  again 
repeated,  "  May  I  hope  ?" 

"  I  will  answer  you  before  I  cross  the  sea,"  was  Augustine's 
reply.  And  in  a  few  days,  she  did  answer.  Augustine  Miil- 
ler,  born  Countess  Yon  Mardeck,  became  the  bride  of  Cap- 
tain Augustus  Hunting.  She  became  his  bride  as  Augustine 
Miiller,  the  former  cook  of  the  Huntings.  None,  not  even 
Augustus,  did  know  that  she  was  a  Countess.  All  were 
pleased  at  the  engagement,  but  none  more  than  the  grand- 
father, who  gave  them  a  deed  of  the  villa,  which  Augustus 
and  Augustine  accepted  only  on  the  condition  that  he  should 
make  his  home  always  with  them,  when  they  would  start 
housekeeping. 

"Of  course,  I  will,"  answered  the  happy  grandpa,  "for  I 
want  to  be  near  and  at  hand  to  rock  the  babies  ;  let  them 
come  in  twins."  . 

All  were  laughing  heartily  at  the  grandfather's  last  re- 
mark. 


CHAPTEE   XVI. 

Kemind  me  not,  remind  me  not, 
Of  those  beloved,  those  vanish'd  hours, 
When  all  my  soul  was  given  to  thee; 
Hours  that  may  never  he  forgot, 
Till  time  annerve's  our  vital  powers, 
And  thou  and  I  shall  cease  to  he. 

Can  I  forget — canst  thou  forget 
When  playing  with  thy  golden  hair, 

How  quick  thy  fluttering  heart  did  move? 
O,  by  my  soul,  I  see  thee  yet, 

With  eyes  so  languid,  breast  so  fair, 
And  lips,  though  silent,  breathing  love. 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  367 

"When  thus  reclining  on  my  breast, 

Those  eyes  threw  back  a  glance  so  sweet, 

As  half  reproach'd,  yet  raised  desire, 
And  still  we  near  and  nearer  prest, 
And  still  our  glowing  lips  would  meet, 
As  if  in  kisses  to  expire. —  Byron. 

WE  have  endeavored  to  impress  on  the  mind  of  the  noble 
reader  that,  in  order  to  make  our  prospects  of  a  happy  life 
brighter,  as  we  advance  in  age,  we  must,  and  are  in  duty 
bound — preserve  our  health — master  our  passions — abstain 
from  drinking  intoxicating  beverages  —  from  playing  and 
betting  —  reflect  and  reason  calmly  —  be  self-relying,  and 
trust  in  God — do  as  we  want  to  be  done  by — have  plenty  of 
patience,  in  order  to  learn  well  the  profession  we  have  cho- 
sen— look  about  for  the  right  mate,  and  marry  when  the  time 
has  come  not  to  be  alone — 

Curtail  vanity, 

That  demon  of  society — 
Practice  charity, 
That  bright  jewel  of  humanity. 

But  there  is  one  more  rule  to  be  observed  throughout  life, 
so  that  our  prospects  for  peace  of  mind  and  happiness  should 
not  fade  and  grow  dim.  Avoid  the  lawyers ;  they  are,  with  a 
very  few  exceptions,  the  most  dangerous  men  to  have  any 
dealings  with.  Be  your  own  lawyer,  and  by  abstaining  from 
drinking,  gambling,  and  keeping  your  passions  in  check, 
by  training  yourself  to  reflect  and  reason  calmly,  by  doing  as 
you  want  to  be  done  by,  and  have  plenty  of  patience,  you  can 
examine  into  every  case  yourself,  and  decide  against  your- 
self rather  than  go  to  law,  and  fall  in  the  hands  of  the 
lawyers,  who  will  destroy  your  peace  of  mind,  and  manage 
to  get  out  of  you  good  round  fees,  for  doing  you  not  a  parti- 
cle of  good  ;  if  anything,  keep  you  in  an  ocean  of  trouble. 

"Avoid  the  lawyers."  Such  were  the  thoughts,  as  a  law- 
yer called  one  evening  on  Otto  Wehlen,  Esquire,  with  many 
extracts  of  deeds,  copied  from  the  records,  and  showed 


368  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

him,  clearly,  that  his  twenty  acres  of  land,  near  the  project- 
ed Metropolitan  Park,  now  worth  a  million  of  dollars,  were 
to  him  lost,  as  his  title  was  not  good.  "  It  is  not  worth  the 
paper  it  is  written  on,"  said  he ;  but,  in  consideration  of 
a  fee  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  he,  the  able  lawyer,  would 
keep  this  great  secret  to  himself;  otherwise,  he  would  at 
once  go  to  work  and  find  the  rightful  owner. 

Otto  listened.  He  showed  no  sign  of  alarm,  but  he  felt  a 
strange  misgiving,  for  he  now  remembered  that  when  he 
made  the  purchase  of  those  twenty  acres  he  did  not  take  the 
time  to  examine  the  title.  In  fact,  he  was  too  young  at  that 
time  to  know  it  to  be  necessary  to  examine  a  title.  All  he 
did  was  to  read  the  same  and  examine  whether  so  much 
land  was  marked  out  in  the  Eecorder's  office  when  he  paid 
for  it;  but  to  go  into  a  thorough  examination  of  the  title  had 
never  come  in  his  mind.  The  land  being  now  very  valuable, 
he  presumed,  and  presumed  correctly,  that  the  lawyers  tried 
to  find  some  flaws,  to  have  a  fat  fee. 

Although  all  this  passed  his  thoughts,  he  nevertheless 
said :  "  I  am  satisfied  that  the  title  to  my  property  is  all 
right." 

"I  can  assure  you,"  answered  the  lawyer,  in  sincerity, 
"  your  title  to  the  property  is  not  worth  a  row  of  pins,  and  if 
you  will  not  give  me  the  fee  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  why! 
I  will  at  once  take  the  proper  steps  to  apprise  the  rightful 
owners.  However,  I  will  be  liberal,  and  take  only  forty 
thousand  dollars  from  you,  though  I  know  it  is  throwing  ten 
thousand  dollars  away  ;  but  I  like  to  be  magnanimous  with 
my  clients." 

At  these  words  the  blood  rushed  to  Otto's  head,  and  he 
said:  "  I  am  not  the  man  who  bribes,  and  would  not  give 
you  one  cent  for  the  purpose  you  ask.  You  can  not  practice 
on  me  your  magnanimity,  and  call  me  your  client." 

The  magnanimous  lawyer  looked  quite  surprised,  and 
bowed  himself  out  of  the  room,  uttering  an  oath  as  he  left. 
Beaching  the  street  he  was  met  by  a  fellow-lawyer,  to 
whom  he  said : 


A   TALE   OP   EEAL   LIFE.  369 

"The  game  did  not  work.  Did  you  already  mail  the  let- 
ter to  the  rightful  owners  of  the  property?" 

"  I  did  ;  asking  in  return  to  deed  to  me  one-quarter  of  all 
the  property  I  find  belongs  to  them  by  succession  ;  that  I 
would  obtain  from  the  court  a  decision  in  their  favor,  and 
receive  an  order  from  the  highest  court  to  the  present  owners 
to  deliver  up  said  property." 

"  That's  right,"  answered  lawyer  No.  1.  "  It  is  a  pity  I 
could  not  fleece  that  young  man  out  of  a  good  round  fee  ;  we 
could  then  have  divided  our  spoils,  as  agreed.1' 

The  next  day  Otto  "Wehlen  did  not  appear~at  the  bank. 
They  thought  it  very  strange,  since  through  the  many  years 
he  had  been  employed  he  never  missed  to  be  at  his  post. 
But  to-day  he  had  a  higher  duty  to  perform.  It  was  to  get 
his  marriage  license;  and  besides,  to  examine  as  to  the  va- 
lidity of  his  title  to  the  twenty  acres,  bordering  the  park. 
He  engaged  a  clerk,  well  versed  in  the  records,  and  went  to 
work  examining  each  deed ;  also  the  records  of  decisions  of 
the  court  in  regard  to  a  tract  of  land  which  inclosed  his 
twenty  acres.  Soon  it  was  clear  and  evident  to  him  that  his 
title  was  not  valid.  That  piece  of  property,  now  so  very 
valuable,  belonged  to  the  adjoining  estate,  and  had  become 
through  gross  neglect,  a  separate  piece  of  land.  He  exam- 
ined, also,  the  map  of  the  whole  land,  and  readily  perceived 
that  the  decision  of  the  court  included  his  twenty  acres. 

"That  property  does  not  belong  to  me,"  said  he  to  himself. 
"Were  I  the  judge  before  whom  the  case  would  be  tried,  1 
could  not  decide  otherwise" 

He  quickly  copied  the  decision  of  the  court ;  took  some 
tissue  paper  and  traced  on  it  a  sketch  of  the  land,  from  the 
map  on  file.  This  done  he  mounted  his  horse  and  went  to 
the  grounds  to  satisfy  himself,  beyond  a  doubt,  that  his  con- 
clusions were  correct. 

"  That  land  does  not  belong  to  me,  and  the  rightful  owners 
shall  have  it,  as  soon  as  they  demand  it,"  were  his  thoughts. 

A  gloom  passed  over  his  usually  cheerful  face  and  spirit, 
when  he  began  to  realize  that  he  was  engaged  to  Miss  Viola 


370  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

La  Monte  ;  that  the  wedding  was  to  take  place  to-morrow ; 
and  that  Viola  and  her  parents  believed  him  to  be  a  mil- 
lionaire, which  now,  under  the  circumstances,  was  not  the 
case. 

«  What  will  Yiola  say  ?  What  will  Mr.  La  Monte  say  ? 
What  will  the  proud  Mrs.  La  Monte  say,  when  they  hear 
that  his  property,  '  his  great  piece  of  property,'  as  they  took 
pride  to  call  it,  was  not  his ;  on  account  of  deficiency  in 
his  title?" 

He  rode  on,  busy  with  such  thoughts.  "  Will  he  be  as  ac- 
ceptable to  his  dear  Yiola  as  a  husband,  and  to  her  parents 
as  a  son-in-law,  deprived  suddenly  of  such  a  valuable  pos- 
session as  a  million  of  real-estate  ?" 

While  Otto  rode  and  was  busy  with  his  thoughts,  Mr.  John 
James  La  Monte  called  his  wife,  his  son,  Eosalind,  and  Viola, 
in  the  library,  and  then  delivered,  with  tearful  eyes,  to  Win- 
fred  his  commission,  from  the  Governor  of  the  State,  ap^ 
pointing  him  the  first  Geologist  of  this  great  State,  with 
instructions  to  select  his  own  aids,  and  commence,  with  as 
little  delay  as  possible,  to  geologize  the  western  part  of  the 
State.  And  the  father  added  : 

"  This  great  honor  was  bestowed  on  him,  not  because  he  is 
a  son  of  John  James  La  Monte,  a  grandson  of  the  Bottwells, 
but  because  his  report  on  geology  showed  the  clearest  com- 
prehension and  thorough  knowledge  of  that  great  science. 
The  Board  of  Examination  unanimously  declared  him,  not- 
withstanding his  young  age,  entitled  to  the  honorable  and 
responsible  position." 

The  father  had  to  pause.  He  was  overpowered  by  joyful 
tears,  yet  mingled  with  sorrow.  After  a  few  moments,  recov- 
ering himself,  he  continued : 

"My  children,  through  peculiar  circumstances,  and  only 
with  the  greatest  difficulty,  have  I  raised  you  to  man  and 
womanhood.  I  have  no  doubt  shortened  the  days  of  my 
life  to  accomplish  it.  In  return,  I  ask  of  you  the  favor  to 
be  less  vain  of  your  birth,  of  your  beauty,  and  not  to  pride 
yourself  on  wealth.  Remember  that  we  are  all  of  humile 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  371 

origin.  As  for  beauty,  it  is  only  skin  deep;  and  as  regards 
wealth,  it  is  the  most  unreliable  of  all.  Behold,  your  grand- 
father's property  consists  mostly  of  United  States  bonds;  can 
there  be  anything  safer?  For  the  payment  of  principal  and 
interest  the  honor  and  the  wealth  of  this  great  nation  is 
pledged,  and  yet,  in  the  last  dying  moments,  your  grandfather 
requested  me  to  read,  in  a  very  reliable  newspaper,  that  some 
of  the  United  States  bonds  were  counterfeit;  and  so  well 
are  they  executed  that  they  are  detected  only  by  very  close 
examination.  Now,  suppose  our  bonds  should  prove  to  be 
counterfeit,  we  would  be  reduced  almost  to  beggary." 

Mrs.  La  Monte  groaned  at  these  words,  and  Viola  men- 
tally exclaimed :  "  What  a  lucky  bride  I  am',  that  my  Otto 
has  his  property  in  real  estate,  and  worth  a  million  of  dol- 
lars !  " 

"  Yes,"  continued  the  husband  and  father,  "  do  not  pride 
yourself  on  birth,  on  beauty,  on  wealth  ;  it  is  more  or  less  a 
delusion.  Strive  to  acquire  good  habits — strive  to  acquire 
knowledge — strive  to  be  just  before  God  and  man;  not  be- 
cause you  hope  for  applause  from  your  fellow-men,  and  to 
receive  a  reward  from  heaven.  No!  be  just;  for  to  be  just 
is  to  act  godly.  This  only  is  a  wealth  of  which  none  can 
deprive  you." 

A  knock  was  given  on  the  door.  "  Come  in,"  said  Mr.  La 
Monte,  and  Otto  Wehlen  entered.  He  looked  somewhat  pale, 
which  Yiola  quickly  noticed.  He  greeted  her,  and  the  rest 
of  the  family,  very  pleasantly,  but  not  with  his  usual  cheer- 
ftilness. 

"  Why  did  you  not  come  to  the  bank  to-day  ?  "  asked  Mr. 
La  Monte,  in  a  fatherly  tone. 

"  I  had  very  important  business  to  transact,"  was  Otto's 
reply.  f 

Winfred  now  approached  him,  and  showed  his  commission 
from  the  Governor  as  first  Geologist  of  the  State. 

Otto  heartily  congratulated  the  young  student,  and  said : 
"You  have  good  news  for  me,  but  I  bring  you  news  upon 
which  you  will  no  doubt  look  as  very  bad  news." 


372  OUR   PROSPECTS. 

"  "What  is  it  ?"  asked  Mr.  and  Mrs.  La  Monte  and  Yiola,  in 
one  voice. 

"  I  am  glad  you  are  all  assembled,  so  that  all  may  hear 
what  I  have  to  say.  It  is  nothing  less  than  that  my  twenty 
acres,  worth  a  million  of  dollars,  are  lost  to  me  because  the 
title  thereto  is  not  valid." 

Mr.  John  James  La  Monte  laid  his  hand  quickly  on  his 
heart,  for  it  began  to  palpitate  with  unusual  rapidity.  Yiola 
grew  deadly  pale,  and  Mrs.  La  Monte  gave  one  shriek  of 
distress  and  exclaimed  :  There  is  no  justice !  there  is  no  G-od  ! 
that  I,  the  born  Bottwell,  should  be  threatened  to  be  reduced 
to  beggary,  and  now  Yiola  is  to  marry — " 

"Don't  lament,  Theodosia,"  interrupted  the  husband; 
"  don't  lament,  wife  ;  just  as  little  chance  there  is  that  the 
bonds  we  hold  are  counterfeit,  just  as  little  chance  there  is, 
for  the  title  to  that  valuable  land,  not  to  be  valid.  Please 
leave  me  with  Otto,  alone;  I  wish  to  examine  with  him  into 
this  case."  He  waived  his  hand  ;  Eosalind  approached  her 
distressed  mother  and  assisted  her  to  her  room,  where  she  re- 
mained, trying  to  reason  that  matters  might  not  be  so  bad  as 
Otto  thought. 

Otto  "VYehlen,  being  left  alone  with  his  future  father-in-law, 
minutely  related  what  had  happened :  the  call  of  the  lawyer, 
his  examination  into  the  case,  and  his  firm  resolve  not  to 
contest  the  case  before  the  courts.  "  I  am  satisfied  in  my 
mind,"  said  he,  "  that  the  title  is  not  good." 

Mr.  La  Monte  thought  differently,  and  although  under  the 
explanation  of  Otto  it  appeared  to  him  a  hopeless  case,  yet 
the  stake  being  so  great,  he  was  in  favor  of  employing  the 
best  legal  talent  that  money  could  procure.  "  There  is  that 
great  lawyer,  Leo  Beiss,  whose  matchless  eloquence  has 
turned  the  scale  of  many  a  doubtful  case,  in  favor  of  his 
clients,"  said  he. 

Otto  listened  and  calmly  answered :  Mr.  La  Monte,  "  I  will 
employ  no  lawyers,  since  my  mind  is  firmly  made  up  not 
to  contest  the  case,  for  I  have  accepted  as  my  motto,  'to  do 
unto  others,  as  I  want  to  be  done  by.'  I  am  convinced 


A   TALE   OP    REAL   LIFE.  373 

that  I  have  no  claim  on  that  property,  and  will  not  for  a 
hundred  times  that  amount,  deviate  one  iota  from  my  cher- 
ished motto.  The  only  question  I  wish  to  ask  you,  whether 
under  the  existing  circumstances,  I  am  still  acceptable  to  you, 
and  to  Mrs.  La  Monte,  as  a  son-in-law  ?" 

"  You  are,"  answered  Mr.  La  Monte,  promptly ;  "  but  I  will 
consider  it  a  personal  favor  not  to  take  any  step  in  regard  to 
that  property,  without  letting  me  know  of  it  beforehand 
what  you  intend  to  do." 

"  Of  course,  I  will,"  answered  Otto.  "  Can  I  now  see  Yiola 
and  receive  from  her  own  lips,  that  she  is  still  willing  to  be- 
come my  wife  ?" 

"  It  is  hardly  necessary,"  remarked  Mr.  La  Monte,  "  but  in 
order  that  there  should  be  a  perfect  understanding  between 
you,  I  will  call  her." 

"While  the  father  continued  to  examine  the  papers,  Viola 
assured  Otto  again  and  again,  that  when  she  engaged  herself 
to  him,  she  did  not  know  he  was  the  possessor  of  such  vast 
wealth  ;  she  loved  him  for  his  personal  worth,  and  she  had 
not  the  slightest  doubt  that  his  love  for  her  was  for  her  alone. 
And  so  should  it  be  with  all  who  intend  to  unite  in  the  holy 
bonds  of  matrimony. 

While  this  was  going  on  in  the  house  of  La  Monte,  there 
was  great  joy  and  happiness  reigning  in  the  house  of  Edward 
Hunting,  Esquire.  Augustus,  Augustine  and  her  dear  brother 
Karl,  Grandfather  Hunting,  Edward  Hunting,  Mrs.  Hunting, 
Charles  Hunting,  with  the  three  C.  C.  C.,  Agnes  and  Frank 
Wilkins,  Myra  and  Blanche,  all  were  assembled  to  receive 
Leonheart  Overbeck  and  Henry  Fastleben,  who  had  arrived 
from  their  new  home,  bringing  with  them  the  map  of  the 
new  laid-out  city,  explaining  the  great  advantages  which 
promised  that  it  would  become  a  large  city  in  the  course  of 
a  few  years. 

"But  what  is  going  to  be  the  name  of  the  new  city?"  asked 
they,  earnestly. 

"ZADOCK   CITY," 

exclaimed  Mr.  Edward  Hunting,  kissing  his  noble  old  father. 


374  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

All  exclaimed  joyfully:  "Yes,  that  must  be  the  name  of 
the  new  city,  in  honor  of  the  grandfather." 

The  6ld  gentleman  made  no  reply,  tears  stood  in  his  bright 
•eyes,  and  his  lips  moved  in  prayer. 

The  door  was  opened,  a  tall  gentleman  in  the  uniform  of 
the  Prussian  navy  suddenly  entered.  Commander  Miiller 
started  from  his  seat,  exclaiming:  "Lieutenant  Von  Johnen, 
what  brings  you  here  !" 

The  Lieutenant  saluted  his  superior,  and  said :  "  A  special 
messenger  has  arrived  from  his  Eoyal  Highness,  the  King, 
with  a  message  for  the  commander  of  the  man-of-war  King 
"William  I.,  to  be  delivered  forthwith,  which  I  now  have  the 
honor  to  deliver." 

Commander  Muller  at  once  broke  the  royal  seal,  and  after 
glancing  over  the  contents,  he  read  aloud,  before  the  whole 
company : 

"  Commander  Miiller  will,  by  command  of  his  Eoyal 
Highness,  the  King,  assume  the  title  of  Count  Karl  Yon 
Mardeck,  as  the  confiscated  estate  and  title  have  been  re- 
stored to  his  noble  father,  the  Count  Ulrich  Von  Mardeck. 

"Commander  Count  Karl  Von  Mardeck  will  forthwith 
bring  home  in  the  man-of-war  King  William  I.,  his  noble 
sister,  the  Countess  Augustine  Von  Mardeck,  who  has  been 
appointed  as  the  first  Lady  of  Honor  to  her  Eoyal  Highness, 
the  Queen,  and  all  the  honor  due  to  the  noble  Countess,  the 
first  Lady  of  Honor  to  her  Eoyal  Mistress,  is  to  be  observed. 

"  By  order  of  his  Eoyal  Highness,  the 

"KING." 

All  were  astonished  at  the  great  news;  Augustus  was  be- 

bewildered.     Augustine  noticed  it,  and  said :  "  Augustus,  you 

look  alarmed ;  fear  not,  I  am  yours  forever.    I  will  not  become 

the  first  Lady  of  Honor  to  her  Eoyal  Highness,  the  Queen, 

but  become,  to-morrow,  with  God's  grace,  your  loving  wife." 

Augustus  added :  "  And  I  your  loving  husband." 

"  Sojae  it ;  and  '  nil  consdre  sibi ;'  to  be  conscious  of  no  fault. 


A   TALE   OP    REAL   LIFE.  375 

Only  then,  my  children,  will  our  prospects  brighten  for  genuine 
and  lasting  happiness,  here  and  the  great  hereafter,"  ex- 
claimed the  grandfather.  "Come  to  me,  and  I  will  bless 
you." 

It  was  a  solemn  scene  when  all  received  the  grandfather's 
blessing. 

"Let  us  now  retire,  and  meet  to-morrow  at  the  altar, 
where  you,  Countess  Augustine  Yon  Mardeck,  will  become 
the  plain  Mrs.  Augustus  Hunting,  one  of  the  sovereigns  of 
the  United  States ;  and  you,  my  dear  Agnes,  will  become  Mrs. 
Frank  Wilkins ;  and  you,  my  dear  Myra,  will  become  Mrs. 
Leonheart  Overbeck  ;  and  you,  my  dear  Blanche,  will  become 
Mrs.  Henry  Fastleben ;  are  you  all  satisfied?"  asked  the  old 
gentleman. 

""We  are,"  exclaimed  all;  "and  so  am  I,  and  you,  my  dear 
Charles,"  remarked  the  grandfather,  seeing  Charles  looking 
so  gloomy;  "you  will  be  one  of  Augustus'  groomsmen." 

It  spread  like  wild-fire  over  the  whole  city  that  the  bride 
of  Captain  Augustus  Hunting,  formerly  a  cook  in  the  family, 
was  a  born  Countess.  This,  of  course,  made  her  appear 
even  handsomer  and  nobler  in  the  eyes  of  all  who  knew  and 
had  heard  of  her.  Long  before  the  appointed  hour  the 
church  was  crowded  with  what  is  called  the  elite  of  society, 
to  witness  the  marriage  ceremonies  of  the  different  couples. 

There  was  the  proud  Miss  Yiola  La  Monte  and  Mr.  Otto 
"VVehlen,  the  son  of  their  housekeeper,  who  through  a  fortu- 
nate investment  in  real  estate  had  become  a  millionaire. 

Next,  Captain  Augustus  Hunting  and  the  noble  Countess 
Augustine  Yon  Mardeck,  who  when  her  father's  estate  and 
title  had  been  confiscated,  emigrated  to  America,  where  she 
served  as  a  cook,  and  sent  her  earnings  home,  to  enable  her 
brother  Karl  to  receive  a  classical  education;  who  entered 
the  Prussian  Navy,  rapidly  advanced  to  the  high  rank  of 
commander  of  a  man-of-war;  and  who,  at  the  risk  of  his 
life,  saved  Captain  Augustus  Hunting,  from  a  watery  grave, 
when  his  ship  was  lost  on  the  sea. 

They  also  were  there  to  witness  the  marriage  of  the  three 


376  OUR  PROSPECTS. 

sisters  of  Augustus  Hunting,  who  married  three  former  em- 
ployees of  the  house  of  Edward  Hunting. 

All  this  was  whispered  among  the  spectators  in  the  church. 
The  moment  approached  when  the  bridegrooms  and  brides, 
and  relatives,  were  expected.  The.  organ  commenced  play- 
ing, with  full  force,  Mendelssohn's  Grand  Wedding-March, 
filling  the  whole  church  with  a  solemnity  and  joy  worthy  of 
the  grand  occasion.  The  La  Monte  party  arrived  first.  Miss 
Yiola  La  Monte,  in  her  superb  wedding  dress  and  costly 
jewels,  looked  like  a  fairy  queen.  Mr.  Otto  Wehlen  walked 
erect,  and  conscious  that  his  good  habits,  his  love  for  knowl- 
edge and  impartial  justice,  had  endeared  him  to  God  and 
man.  He  looked  the  very  picture  of  well  developed  man- 
hood. There  was  an  universal  murmur  of  admiration  when 
these  two  made  their  appearance. 

Next  came  Augustus  Hunting  and  his  bride.  Augustine 
was  escorted  by  her  noble  brother  Karl,  who  looked  grand 
and  noble  in  his  full  uniform,  with  the  epaulets  of  his  rank. 

Then,  Frank  Wilkins,  accompanied  by  two  of  his  sisters. 
Agnes  was  escorted  by  the  grandfather. 

Leonheart  Overbeck,  with  attendants,  followed,  Myra  being 
accompanied  by  her  father. 

Next  appeared  Henry  Fastleben  and  groomsmen.  Blanche 
was  escorted  by  her  brother  Charles,  whose  features  now 
plainly  indicated  health,  peace  and  activity. 

Miss  Rosalind,  who  was  one  of  Yiola's  bridesmaids,  joy- 
'fully  noticed  his  appearance. 

Mrs.  La  Monte  did  not  attend  the  marriage  of  her  daugh- 
ter Viola,  since  she  had  been  unwell  ever  since  the  bad 
news,  that  their  bonds  might  be  counterfeit,  and  that  Otto's 
title  to  "his  great  piece  of  property  "  was  worthless. 

All  appeared  very  beautiful,  notwithstanding  Augustine' 
and  the  sisters  Hunting  were  only  attired  in  white  Swiss 
dresses,  with  skirts  just  to  touch  the  floor.  All  looked 
happy,  as  only  brides  and  bridegrooms  can  who  love  their' 
chosen  mates. 


A   TALE   OF   REAL   LIFE.  377 

But  none  "were  happier  than  the  grandfather  and  the  good 
Mrs.  Wehlen. 

Both  insisted  that  the  wedding  should  be  celebrated  as  of 
olden  times  :  a  wedding  feast,  good  music  and  a  dance  until 
the  gray  of  morning.  To  please  the  old  people,  the  largest 
hall  had  been  engaged,  where  all  the  relatives  and  friends  of 
the  family  assembled  to  have  a  gay  old  time ;  and  while  the 
young  couples,  with  high  hopes  and  great  expectations,  enjoy 
themselves  in  the  midst  of  their  congratulating  friends,  the 
author  of  "Our  Prospects"  makes,  before  the  noble  reader, 
one  of  Yiola's  profoundest  bows,  bidding  him  an  affectionate 
farewell. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


J  A  iv  08 1990 


Form  L9-50m-ll,'50  (2554)444 


PS     Loth.  - 

2299   Our  prospeoti. 

L911o 


2299 
L911o 


I  i  1 


